Helen Brank Johnston

Helen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her. She was born in Asheville, NC on September 2, 1926, daughter of the late Walter Scott Brank, Sr and the late Anna Ruble Swan Brank as well as sister to the late Walter Scott (Bud) Brank, Jr. Helen married Ralph Leon Johnston, the love of her life, on June 12, 1948. She became a true homemaker and fantastic cook. They settled in Greenville, SC and enjoyed 49 wonderful years together until Ralph’s passing in 1997. Helen’s other loves were her children, James Verne Johnston (Caroline Greene) and Margie Johnston Cole (Frank Jackson Cole, Jr), grandchildren Anna Flarra Cole Schlimme (Jonathan Louis Schlimme) and Brandon Johnston Cole (Amanda Jane Millen) and her precious great-grandchildren Helen Legare Schlimme (2 1/2 yrs) and Lydia Louise Schlimme (5 mos). Helen and Ralph relished being grandparents. Although Anna and Brandon lived in Charleston, SC, they took every opportunity to spend time with them. After Ralph passed, Helen still drove to Charleston as much as possible. Anna and Brandon were year-round competitive swimmers. Helen would travel to their swim meets all around the state. She became known as Swim Grandma and if she missed a swim meet, others wanted to know where she was.

Although not a golfer herself, she loved watching the PGA tournaments on TV. In 2007, Helen was thrilled to attend a practice round for the PGA Senior Championship at Kiawah, SC. She also enjoyed watching college basketball and football. Helen was a true Atlanta Braves fan as well.

Greenville Little Theatre was another thing Helen and Ralph enjoyed attending. They had season tickets for a number of years. After Ralph passed, Helen rallied a group of friends from Northside United Methodist Church to attend the plays with her.

Delivering Meals on Wheels was another activity Ralph and Helen enjoyed doing to serve the community. Helen continued to deliver Meals on Wheels with her dear friend, Edna Harvey for as long as she was physically able.

Helen and Ralph were devoted Christians and were charter members of Northside United Methodist Church. Helen was very active in the Anita Way Circle, the Altar Guild, visitation to members and many other areas throughout her active years at Northside. She was active with Northside’s senior group and enjoyed the senior luncheons hosted every month. Helen was known for bringing her delicious banana pudding to the luncheons. Everyone looked forward to enjoying a serving for dessert.

Extended family was so important to Helen, not only her own relatives, but Ralph’s as well. So much fun was had at family gatherings and family reunions. Helen never missed a Swan Family reunion from the first one held in 1952 until 2021. Only because of her declining health, she missed the 2022 reunion.

One of Helen’s proudest accomplishments was hiking Mt LeConte in North Carolina at the age of 78 with son, James and cousins, Verne Swan and Christie Swan King. Mt LeConte is the third highest peak in the Smokies.

Helen’s passing is a great loss to her family, friends, and church. But her memory will live on in the countless lives she touched and the positive impact she had on the world around her.

Memorials may be made to Northside United Methodist Church, 435 Summit Drive, Greenville, SC 29609 in her memory.

A visitation for Helen will be held Monday, May 1, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 9:45 AM at Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 1 Pine knoll Drive, Greenville, SC 29609.

A funeral service will occur Monday, May 1, 2023 from 10:00 AM, 1 Pine knoll Drive, Greenville, SC 29609. A committal service will occur at Woodlawn Memorial Park.

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