Helen Drake Swafford Owens Waldroop

Franklin, NC - Helen Drake Swafford Owens Waldroop, age 89, of Franklin, passed away August 24, 2011. She was a native of Macon County, the daughter of the late Arthur and Delia Dills Drake. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by 6 brothers, Odell, Edwin, Claude, Ralph, Elmo and Clyde Drake; and two sisters, Gretchen Wood and Mildred Phillips. She was of the Baptist faith and a member of Longview Baptist Church. She was a loving and devoted mother, She worked for many years as a cook and waitress in most of the Restaurants in Franklin, also in Maryland, Washington DC and upper state New York. She was the last member of her family.

She is survived by her 5 children, Pat Swafford Rogers and husband Truman, Linda Swafford Hardin, Gene Swafford and wife Maggie, Jerry Swafford and wife Pam and Richard Owens, nine grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Five nephews, Phil, Tommy, Warren and Glenn Drake and Morris Phillips; two nieces, Mildred Drake Holden and Faith Drake Fisher; six step-children and a number of cousins and lots of friends also survive.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 2:00 pm in the Chapel of Bryant-Grant Funeral Home, with Rev.Ted Cook, Rev. Albert Gray and Phil Drake officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Grandsons and great-grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 to 2:00 pm, two hours prior to the service at Bryant-Grant Funeral Home.

Memorial donations may be made to Drake Cottages, 2127 Iotla Church Road, Franklin, NC 28734.

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences are available by visiting bryantgrantfuneralhome.com or by email.