Frances Helms Mrs. Austin

PEACHLAND - Mrs. Frances Helms Austin, 80, died Saturday, July 19, 2014 at Lake Park Nursing and Rehabilitation in Indian Trail. Funeral services will be 3:00pm Monday, July 21, 2014 at Deep Springs Baptist Church with Rev. Jim Phillips and Rev. Rocky Carpenter officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church and also following the service. Frances was born June 6, 1934 in Union County, NC one of nine children born to the late Henry and Essie Mae Ross Helms. She had worked in textiles and also served Gilboa United Methodist Church as pianist. She was a long time member of Deep Springs Baptist Church. Surviving are her children, Linda Austin (William) Linderman of Wingate, Ronnie (Sherri) Austin of Peachland and Betty Sue Austin (Don) Underhill of Mt. Gilead; her grandchildren, Joy (Ashley) Drake, PFC Tyler Austin and Justin Austin all of Peachland, Chance Underhill of Marshville and Abbie Schmitt of Okinawa, Japan and her great-grandchildren, Haley and Tayler Drake and Trinity Rose Austin all of Peachland. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Horace and Nelson Helms, Edna Sherrin, Vivian Kerley and four of whom passed away as children. Frances will be remembered as a loving mother who sacrificed much for her children and for the gift of playing the piano by ear, which she said was a gift from God after her children were born. Memorials may be made to Deep Springs Baptist Church, 1908 Deep Springs Church Road, Peachland, NC 28133. The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.leavittfuneralhomewadesboro.com