Frankie Ward Dean

Frankie Marie Ward Dean passed peacefully into the hands of her Lord on September 8, 2026, after a short stay at Memorial Mission Hospital.

Born April 29, 1929, she was a beautiful 97 years old. The daughter of the late Narvie and Lula (Ashe) Ward, she was predeceased by her loving husband, Daniel Dean, and her only son, Keith Dean and his wife, Betty, and son-in-law, Al Nicholas. She was the last living member of her family, having survived 12 siblings.

A lifelong resident of Jackson County, Frankie grew up in the Wilmot Community and attended Sylva School through eighth grade. Circumstances of the Great Crash of 1929 forced her and many other rural area children to drop out of school to help on family farms. Her desire for an education never left her, however, and at age 50 she attended night classes at Southwestern Technical Institute (now Southwestern Community College) and earned a diploma for the equivalency of four years of high school. She also worked full time for Buster Brown Apparel Company later Skyland Textile, retiring after 35 years.

Frankie was an avid Christian and a true ambassador for God. She was a member of the Women’s Missionary Union at Wilkesdale Baptist Church for more than 50 years. She raised four children in the Christian faith and when Wilkesdale closed due to lack of attendance, she continued to work feverishly for several years, never giving up hope, and succeeded to get church doors open again for the community. Even when she could no longer easily attend, she delighted in looking out her living room window to view people on the church grounds on the hill across the way. Frankie remained active attending line dance classes at the Senior Center until age 92 and joining friends at Bojangles’ Bingo until one week before her death. She liked nothing better than laughing and joking with her grandchildren. She will be remembered by her friends and family as a kind and loving individual and a woman of grace, love and forgiveness. She will be remembered always and greatly missed.

She is survived by three daughters, Margaret Bryson (Dewey) of Charlotte, Janet Childers (Bill) of Polkton, and Angela Nicholas of Saluda; six grandsons, Ryan Griffin (Amber) of Saluda, Josh Bryson of Charlotte, Jeremy Bryson of Bolivia, Nathan Griffin of Saluda, Chris Childers (Amanda) of Harrisburg, and Andrew Dean (Patricia) of Franklin; and six great-grandchildren, Joshua, Hailey, Daniel, Emma, Lucas, Jadie and Dylan.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 13, 2026 in the Chapel of Appalachian Funeral Services with the Reverend Brandon Lewis officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Fairview Memorial Gardens with friends and family invited to gather at the Dean home, 6 Salem Drive following.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Cullowhee Valley Baptist Church, Wil;kesdale Outreach Center, P.O. Box 958, Dillsboro, NC 28725.

Appalachian Funeral Services is honored to care for the Dean family.