Helen Ruffin Franks

Helen Ruffin Franks February 12, 1922 – August 14, 2015 Helen Ruffin Franks, 93, of Raleigh was promoted to Glory from Transitions Hospice Care in Raleigh on Friday, August 14, 2015 surrounded by her family. Her memorial service will be conducted 7 p.m. Thursday at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson. The Major Pete Costas, Jr. will officiate. Helen was born in Wilson to Ollie and Florence Ruffin. She was the oldest of ten children. She loved dancing, telling stories, reading, watching TV, helping others, talking to people and attending church. She moved to Raleigh in 1988 to be near her daughter, Elizabeth “Lib” Tiller. Helen worked at K-Mart for twenty two years, where she made a lasting friendship with Calvin Roebuck. Helen is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth “Lib” Tiller and husband, Gene; her sisters, Daisy Parnell, Doris Cate, Beatrice Baker, Shelby Batts and husband, Jesse and Edna Bass and husband, Clayton and her brothers, James Ruffin and wife, Esther and David “Pete” and wife, Margaret. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ollie and Florence Ruffin and her brothers, Ollie Ruffin, Jr. and Jesse Ruffin. Flowers are welcome or memorials may be directed in Helen’s honor to the Salvation Army of Wake County, PO Box 27584, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27611-7584 or the Transitions Life Care, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27607. Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.