10/1/2009

Frances Drake Campbell


    TARBORO, N.C. — Frances Drake Campbell died peacefully on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 surrounded by her loving family at the Fountains at the Albemarle Retirement Community in Tarboro.
    Mrs. Campbell was born on November 18, 1929 to Evelyn Washington Drake and Henry Grady Drake. She graduated with the Class of 1947 from Burlington High School. She married the love of her life, James Robert Campbell on September 20, 1947. Shortly after their wedding, they moved to Knoxville, Tennessee when he accepted a job with the Tennessee River Valley Authority. In 1956, he went to work in the aerospace program with General Electric until his retirement in 1991. His job assignments allowed their family to live in different parts of the country, including Johnson City, Tennessee; Utica, New York; Sarasota and Merritt Island in Florida; Huntsville, Alabama; and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. They returned to Burlington shortly after his retirement. Following Mr. Campbell’s death in 2007, Mrs. Campbell moved to Tarboro.
    Mrs. Campbell was devoted to her family and was a good friend to many others. She was known for her friendly smile and unique sense of humor. She was a proud Southerner and an avid fan of county music. She demonstrated her creativity through needlework, painting, crafts, plants and flowers. She loved to play Bridge and Canasta and was known for leading marathon card games. She and Mr. Campbell enjoyed traveling, especially to visit their children and grandchildren. She was a member of the Grove Park Baptist Church in Burlington.
    Mrs. Campbell was preceded in death by her husband and her son, James Robert Campbell Junior. She is survived by three children, Diane Campbell LeFiles and husband Leonard of Tarboro, N.C.; David E. Campbell and wife Sandra of Owens Cross Roads, Ala. and Susan Campbell Jordan and husband David of Fuquay-Varina, N.C. Additional survivors include her daughter-in-law, Lavonne Crick Campbell of Downers Grove, Ill.; sister Betty Sue Drake Allred of Burlington; sister Patsy Drake Helms and husband David Helms of Monroe, N.C. Mrs. Campbell has 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
    The family will receive visitors at the Alamance Memorial Park Mausoleum, 4039 S. Church Street in Burlington at 1:30 pm on Saturday, October 3, 2009. Dr. E. Eugene Hunsinger of the Grove Park Baptist Church will conduct a graveside service at 2 p.m. immediately following the visitation. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested friends consider donations to Hospice of Alamance/Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, N.C. 27215.
    Condolences may be offered at
www.richandthompson.com  3, Frances Drake Campbell