Frances Helms Abernethy, age 88, died October 29, 2026, in Charleston, SC. Born and raised in Charlotte, NC, to Margaret Harrelson Helms and Fred Bryan Helms, she had one sister, the late Margaret Helms Tyson of Dallas, Texas. Frances graduated from Myers Park High School in 1956 and from Wake Forest College (now university) in 1960. Upon graduation, she began a forty year-long career as an English teacher at numerous junior high, middle, and high schools. She worked closely with Student Councils and Honor Societies at a number of schools. The mother of two Eagle Scouts, Frances worked with the scouting program for a number of years. Frances was a member of Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. Her father was one of the twelve founders of that church. She was also a member of Providence Baptist Church on Daniel Island, SC.

Frances is survived by her elder son, Bryan David Abernethy, and his son, Matthew Harrelson Abernethy, and by her youngest son, Phillip Harrison Abernethy, his wife, Melissa (Missy) and their two sons, Phillip Harrison Abernethy, Jr. and Hudson Dore’ Abernethy; her niece, Linda Sheridan Tyson, and brother-in-law, Dr. Joseph Tyson both of Dallas, Texas.

The funeral will be held at Providence Baptist Church at a date yet to be determined, and interment will be at Myers Park Baptist Church at a later date.

Memorials may be made in Frances’s name to Providence Baptist Church at 294 Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island, SC.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Charleston Cremation Center and Funeral Home.