Helen Bracey

Helen Ruth Davis Bracey, age 93, beloved wife, mom, grandma and great grandma, crossed over to a much better place on June 6, 2022. Born to parents William T. and Stella Horne Davis, struggling cotton farmers of Beech Grove, AR. Ruth was child number 7 of 10, all of whom worked the farm with their parents.

Ruth left the farm at the tender age of 17 and moved to the Washington, DC Metropolitan area with hopes of being a flight attendant. While there, she soon met the love of her life, Dallas, at a local drug store where he worked behind the soda fountain while attending college. He always claimed that she came in to buy movie star magazines just to catch a glimpse of him - a story that she did not always deny.

Ruth and Dallas were married in 1948 in Arlington, VA and had two daughters, Debbie and Kim. Ruth was a wonderful mother and wife. She worked for over 35 years for C&P Telephone Co of Virginia, a Bell System Co. where she was a chief operator in charge of over 120 telephone operators and supervisory personnel. She was a proud member of the Communication Workers of America and the Telephone Pioneers. At home, she was a wonderful cook, who always made sure breakfast and dinner were on the table each day and followed every dinner with one of her famous baked pies, dumplings or cakes.

Ruth and Dallas moved to Ocean Isle Beach and built their retirement home along the water. They enjoyed over 70 years together until Dallas passed in 2018. Ruth developed Frontotemporal Dementia but remained in their home cared for by her daughters and spent her last years sitting on the deck in the warm sun watching the boats and the clouds in the sky.

She was a devoted mom, grandma and great grandma who was full of love for her family and extended family. She enjoyed working in the yard and tending her flowers, attending music festivals and performances, walking on the beach, lending a hand with church fund raising events and charitable projects, shopping with her girls, enjoying the sun on the deck and especially watching her great grandson dance.

Ruth is survived by her daughters Kim B. Dayvault of Little River, SC; Deborah A.B. Hines of Ocean Isle Beach, NC; granddaughters Peyton O. Dayvault of Charlotte, NC; Jaime C. Cooke of Durham, NC with husband Reggie and great grandson, London; younger brother Delmer Eugene Davis of El Paso, TX; and countless numbers of nieces and nephews.

She taught us how to love and to be loved, how to be a good friend, spouse and parent, and how to give of ourselves to others. Her passing has left a huge hole in our hearts but we know she is now in a much better place and is back in the arms of her beloved Dallas.

At her request, no service will be held. We ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration or Lower Cape Fear LifeCare (hospice). We want to give our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare who made the hardest times just a little bit easier.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leefhandcrematory.com for the Bracey family.