Bryan Boddie Hancock

ROCKY MOUNT – Bryan Boddie Hancock, age 72, went to her heavenly home on Sunday, August 30, 2026.  Born in Nash County, NC on October 7, 1953, she was the daughter of the late Nicholas Bunn Boddie and Betsy Bunting Boddie.

Bryan lived her life with quiet strength, steadfast faith, and remarkable resilience that left a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to have known and loved her.  For ten years, she battled a lung disease with tremendous grace, courage, and determination, yet she never allowed her illness to define her or overshadow the life she loved or the people she loved.  She continued to love deeply, care for, and remain devoted to her loved ones.

Bryan was a genuinely devoted and loving daughter, beloved wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, great aunt, and dear friend to many.  Her quiet and calming presence along with her gentle and accepting heart will be deeply missed and never forgotten. She was truly born to be a mother, and nothing brought her more joy and happiness than doing kind and generous things for her daughters,  niece, nephews, great nephews, and great niece.  Her kindness and thoughtful generosity extended far beyond her family.  Bryan was always eager to help whenever a need arose, whether it be a person, charity, or an animal in need.  She truly had a kind, generous, and genuine love for helping and supporting others in her community and church.  No doubt, there were numerous individuals who Bryan helped along the way in some thoughtful and generous manner who no one knew about except that individual.

Bryan was a lovely lady with exquisite tastes, and her love and passion for beautiful American country antiques was certainly expressed and reflected in her gorgeous log home situated in a beautiful country setting on her family’s farm.  She spent many years traveling throughout the countryside of Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maine collecting beautiful and unique antique pieces that found a special place in her home.  Her love of beautiful country pieces extended to her yard and garden providing sanctuary and rest to any who visited there, while her green thumb and hard work was the envy of any and all who yearned for a pretty and healthy yard.

Bryan’s love and appreciation of American country antiques led her into the world of hand-hooked wool rugs where she developed quite a talent for hooking the rugs as well as dying the wool.  She became such an avid rug hooker that this skill and creativity became a hallmark of her life.  She hooked and crafted quite an array of many, many absolutely beautiful, charming rugs, wall hangings and pillows, leaving behind tangible memories of her artistry and passion.  And, one of her most beautiful rugs was even featured on the cover of a hooked rug magazine!  She kindly shared her skills and talents with others by teaching interested friends as well as classes of eager rug hookers anxious to learn this unique skill.

Bryan was an accomplished equestrian during her childhood and early adult years where she met and married her husband, Mike.  Their love of horses only grew, and they shared their entire married life riding, showing, and taking care of horses.  Their daughter, Catherine, caught the horse bug from both of them and spent many years with them riding and showing daughters of Bryan’s horses!  Together, they nurtured, loved, and enjoyed many horses and many fun trips near and far in their customized bus to many horse shows.  Bryan certainly proved herself to be not only a horse lover but an expert barn girl!

For numerous years, during the cold winter months when the Hancock family was not on the horse show circuit, they were busy enjoying fun times chauffeuring their daughter, Rebekah, to and from Wintergreen Resort in Virginia so she could pursue her snow skiing ambition of becoming a certified ski instructor.  Even though Bryan was never bitten by the ski bug herself, she so very much enjoyed making their little slope-side condo cozy, warm, comfortable and, of course, charming while watching Rebekah achieve her ski instructor status!

Bryan was a lifetime member of First Presbyterian Church of Rocky Mount, a past member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America and the Rocky Mount Junior Guild, and a past chair of the Rocky Mount Academy Annual Auction.  In 1991, Bryan organized a major bone marrow drive for the Rocky Mount area, inspired by her good friend, Marti Winstead.

Bryan’s legacy grounded in genuine love, care and generosity continues through her surviving family: her beloved husband of 53 years, Mike Hancock; her loving daughters, Catherine Hancock Perry (Chuck) and Rebekah Hancock Conrad (Chris); her devoted brother, Mac McInnis (Mary Kay); her loving sister, Anne Mosley (Michael); her brother-in-law, Steve Hancock (Lisa); her nephews, Ryan McInnis (Meredith) and Nicholas Mosley (Katie); her adoring niece, Suzanna Mosley; and her great nephews, Atlas and Sterling McInnis, and Carleton Mosley; and her great niece, Sinclair Mosley; as well as her favorite furry friends, Mickey and Nova.

The family would like to invite all to a visitation/reception on Friday, September 4th, 2026, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM at the Hancock home, built with Bryan’s love and charm 43 years ago, 3641 Dortches Blvd, Rocky Mount (enter at stacked rail fence on Dortches Blvd), following a private family graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Bryan’s memory to First Presbyterian Church, 153 North Church Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, or Animal Crackers, PO Box 8860, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, or the Reining Horse Foundation, 3021 W Reno Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73107.

Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.  You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.