Frances Drake Bryant

Frances Bryant died peacefully Tuesday, July 6 at the age of 95 in the Hospice House of Transitions LifeCare.
Fran was born on April 10th in Phelps, NY to Archibald and Margaret Howe Drake. With Archibald’s death, the family moved to California, where Fran entered Occidental College in Los Angeles in 1943. After two years at Occidental, she came east and enrolled in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There she met Victor Bryant, Jr. who had just returned from serving with the Air Force during World War 11. Following their graduation from Carolina, the two married, and Vic entered law school in Chapel Hill.

After Vic’s graduation from law school, the couple settled in Durham where Vic joined his father’s law firm and Fran began a life of motherhood and community service. Over the years, she served as President of the Junior League, the Tourist Club, her garden club, and the Debutante Ball. She was also very active with the Women of the Church at First Presbyterian Church in Durham, receiving numerous awards. During this time, she also raised three daughters.

Fran is pre-deceased by her husband Vic as well as her parents, her two sisters, Elizabeth King and Margaret Clark, and her son-in-law Don Walther. She is also pre-deceased by a daughter, Kathleen Parks Bryant, who died at infancy. She is survived by her three daughters Margaret Walther, Elizabeth Zollinger (Rick), and Dewey Thomas (Bobby). She especially loved her seven grandchildren Victor Thomas, Alton Ray Thomas (Amanda), Richard Zollinger (Abbie), Katherine Zollinger Edwards (Bill), Bryant Zollinger, Christopher Zollinger, and Emilie Walther. Fran also had six great grandchildren and many loved nieces and nephews.

The family would like to offer special gratitude to the staff at the Forest at Duke and to Transitions LifeCare for their wonderful care of Fran during her final years. A reception honoring Fran’s life will be held at a later date as will a graveside service for the family. Gifts may be made to the First Presbyterian Church at 305 E. Main Street, Durham, 27701 or to Transitions LifeCare at 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, 27607.