10/10/2026
I’ve started writing this post several times, and each time, I’ve struggled to find the right words.
The truth is, there is no easy way to post about someone’s passing. Every way seems a little inappropriate…too formal, too casual, too much, or somehow not enough. How do you take an entire life, one that meant so much to so many people, and put it into a few paragraphs on social media?
But saying nothing doesn’t feel right either.
This week, our Sneads Ferry fishing community has experienced tremendous loss with the passing of Mr. Ray Swaney and Mrs. Nancy Millis Edens. Both leave behind families, memories, and legacies woven into the history of Sneads Ferry.
Knowing Nancy personally makes it especially hard to write.
Nancy was a woman of faith and attended New River Community Church. Her faith was an important part of who she was and the life she lived. Nancy was also a big part of the Southern Shrimp Alliance and a strong supporter of the commercial fishing industry. She showed up fiercely for the trawl ban fight in Raleigh, standing up for commercial fishermen and the families whose lives depend on this way of life. Her dedication to preserving our fishing heritage and advocating for our community is part of the lasting legacy she leaves behind.
But Nancy was so much more than her work and contributions to the fishing community. She was a devoted and loving wife to Mr. Donnie, a Mema, a mother, and a friend to so many. She was loved, she mattered deeply to the people around her, and her absence will be felt in ways that no public tribute could ever fully capture.
As we prepare for this year’s Blessing of the Fleet, an event dedicated to Nancy, I can’t help but think about the people behind the boats, the businesses, and the traditions we work so hard to preserve, and what a difference she made. Sometimes we get so caught up in keeping traditions alive that we forget those traditions exist because of people who gave their time, their hearts, and so much of their lives to something bigger than themselves. Nancy was one of those people.
Funeral arrangements for Nancy are as follows:
Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 14, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at New River Community Church of God in Sneads Ferry. Her funeral service will follow at 4:30 p.m. at the church.
Our hearts are with Mr. Donnie, Jeremy, Steven, the Millis and Edens families, and everyone who loved her. I hope they know that Nancy’s life, faith, friendship, and contributions to this community will not be forgotten.
There really aren’t words that make losing someone any easier. But there are memories, there is gratitude, and there is the responsibility we have to carry forward the good that people leave behind.
That is always worth sharing.
📷: Kelsey Lynn
