Philip N. Nance

RALEIGH - Philip N. Nance, 89, well-known Raleigh theatre owner and advocate, died March 29, 2014, after a long illness. A native of Raleigh, Phil was the son of the late E.T. Nance and Virginia Murphy Nance. He graduated from Hugh Morson High School. Having developed a keen interest in film and theatres at an early age, Phil pursued a career in this field, becoming owner and president of Nance Enterprises in March 1971. The company operated the Mission Valley Theatres in Raleigh and the Imperial Theatres in Cary. He was Vice-President of Litchfield Theatres formerly of Pawleys Island, SC and district manager of Consolidated theatres in Charlotte. Phil was also a member of the Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina, serving as a director of the board and as chairman of the Legislative committee. He was a director on the board of NATO (National Association of Theatre Owners) in Virginia and a member of the Motion Picture Pioneers of America. In association with his work and activities related to films and film artists, Phil traveled over the United States attending film openings and meetings where he met industry leaders and movie stars. He frequently entertained stars and film professionals at home in his downstairs recreation room, which became a film gallery, a showplace with dozens of autographed photographs of famous movie starts lining the walls. Included were portraits of Grace Kelly, Cliff Robertson, Richard Crenna, Elvis Presley, Soupy Sales, Ronald Reagan, Kay Kyser and others. Friends sometimes commented the Phil brought Hollywood into his home. Autographed images of prominent friends also hung with the stars: Jessie Helms, Bill Friday, and former Governors Terry Sanford, Dan Moore, Jim Hunt and Jim Holshauser were all represented. Phil was a member of the Raleigh Civitan Club, Raleigh Advertising Club and the Capital City Club. As a member of the NCSU Wolfpack Club, he was for 40 years a fundraiser for the schools athletic scholarship fund and for a number of years received awards recognizing him as the top fundraiser in the club. He was a charter member of Fairmont Methodist Church in Raleigh and a current member of St. Marks Methodist Church. He is survived by his son Philip Nelson Nance Jr. and wife, Louise; grand-daughters, Kathryn and Amanda Nance, all of Raleigh, and many nieces and nephews . He was preceded in death by his wife, Violet B. Nance, his parents and two brothers, E.T. Nance and William Nance. The family would like to thank Phils caretakers for their devotion and exceptional care all these years. The family will receive friends at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home on Wake Forest Road from 6 until 7:30 PM on Tuesday, April 1. A funeral service will be held at Raleigh Memorial Park in the Mausoleum Chapel at 2 PM on Wednesday, April 2. Memorials may be made to either The Wolfpack Club, P. O. Box 37100, Raleigh, NC 27627-7100 or St. Marks United Methodist Church, 4801 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27609.