Frank Wesley Braswell, Sr.

Frank Wesley Braswell, Sr., 68, of Connelly Springs, NC died Saturday, December 27, 2014 at Burke Hospice Palliative Care Center. Born August 21, 1946 in Burke County, NC, he was a son of the late William Wesley Braswell, Jr. and Frankie Ola Benfield Braswell. Frank was a former member of North Morganton Baptist Church, and a current member of Burkemont Baptist Church. He was a retired fire engineer for the City of Morganton Department of Public Safety. He was a member and past Chief of the Burke County Rescue Squad, and an original member of the Burke County Search and Rescue Team. Frank was a paramedic, and a certified rescue diver. He was a retired employee of Drexel-Heritage Furnishings and was a former member and past President of the Morganton Optimist Club. He was a loving and devoted son, husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and all around family man. He was a valued friend and mentor to many people. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wives, Mary Beth Abee Braswell and Sandra Self Braswell; twin granddaughters, Jada and Jocelyn Wiles; and a brother, Roger Tyler Braswell.
Surviving to cherish his memory are a son, Frank "Wesly" Braswell, Jr. and wife, Stephanie of Morganton; daughters, Tracy Ann Navey and husband, Tommy and Kelly Braswell Crowe and husband, Kelly all of Morganton; grandchildren, Mackenzie Cooke, Kristen Wiles, Christopher Randall, Matthew Randall, and Korey, Kasey, and Kaleb Crowe; a great granddaughter, JoAnna Wiles; a brother, Steve Braswell and wife, Lisa of Morganton; nieces, Nicole Braswell, Denisha Smith, Carrie Bailey, Brianna Stamey, and Katelyn Braswell; a nephew, John Luke Curtis; 3 great nieces and 1 great nephew.
The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 1, 2015 at Burkemont Baptist Church with Dr. David Mills and Rev. Eddy Bunton officiating. Burial will follow in Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center and from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the church. Memorial gifts may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690 or to Table Rock Fools Fallen Heros Fund, P. O. Box 601, Morganton, NC 28680.
Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.