CORAL SPRINGS, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Coral Springs will mark the death of Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer on Friday with flags at half-staff across the city and a public Celebration of Life at Church by the Glades.
In a memorandum dated Thursday, April 16, Gov. Ron DeSantis directed that the flags of the United States and the State of Florida be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Friday, April 17, at the State Capitol in Tallahassee and at all local and state buildings, installations, and grounds throughout the City of Coral Springs. The governor’s order was issued in honor of Vice Mayor Nancy M. Bowen.
The city also released updated details for a memorial service being hosted by the Metayer family. The viewing and service are scheduled for Friday at Church by the Glades, 400 Lakeview Drive in Coral Springs. A public viewing is set for 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by the Celebration of Life at 12:30 p.m.
City officials said the service will be livestreamed for people who cannot attend in person. Media will not be permitted inside the church, and the family has asked that no photos or video be taken inside the sanctuary.
The city also asked attendees to avoid wearing shades of red, burgundy, or purple, stating that those colors are considered disrespectful under the family’s cultural traditions.
The public memorial comes just over two weeks after Metayer’s death became the focus of a homicide investigation in Coral Springs. On April 10, the city and Coral Springs Police Department issued a public statement responding to what they described as inaccurate reports by several media outlets about prior calls for service at Metayer’s home.
According to that statement, police had received an increase in public records requests seeking incident reports, supplemental reports, and calls for service tied to Metayer’s residence. After those records were released, the city said some outlets incorrectly reported that earlier 911 calls involving the vice mayor were domestic violence-related.
The city laid out a list of prior calls to the residence and said they were unrelated to domestic violence, with one exception.
A Nov. 13, 2023 disturbance call involved a contractor and subcontractor arguing over staircase floor work and was determined to be civil in nature, the city said. An Aug. 6, 2024 grand theft call involved Metayer reporting a theft tied to a contractor she had hired. Two calls on April 15, 2025 were tied to an animal bite investigation after Metayer’s dog escaped and bit another dog in the neighborhood, according to the city. A follow-up investigation by the department’s humane officer was recorded on April 17, 2025.
The city said the April 1, 2026 homicide investigation was the only call connected to domestic violence. In that same statement, the city said Metayer’s husband, Stephen Bowen, was arrested for first-degree murder.
That clarification came as public attention intensified around the case and around the circumstances surrounding the vice mayor’s death. Coral Springs officials said the purpose of the April 10 statement was to correct the record and provide factual context from the underlying calls for service.
Now, the city’s public messaging has shifted from correcting coverage to outlining how residents can pay their respects.
In its latest update, Coral Springs said people who want to honor Metayer should do so not only in remembrance, but by continuing the values she represented in public life. The city described those values as uplifting others, making space at the table, serving with compassion, and working toward a more sustainable future.
For residents, the practical details are clear. The public viewing begins at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Church by the Glades, followed by the Celebration of Life at 12:30 p.m. Those attending are being asked to respect the family’s clothing guidance and the no-photo, no-video request inside the sanctuary. Those unable to attend in person will be able to watch by livestream.
Friday will also bring a visible public tribute across Coral Springs, where flags are set to fly at half-staff under the governor’s directive.
Readers can follow city updates and planning decisions in Coral Springs News.
