Eloise Glenn Degraffinreid

Eloise DeGraffinreid, 94, of Asheville, NC, transitioned from time to eternity on February 13, 2020.  Mrs. DeGraffinreid was born on July 15, 1925 in Union County, SC to the late Dennis and Sallie Ann Glenn.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert DeGraffinreid; sons, Alphonso Eric “Mutt” and Kenneth “Pop”; and siblings, Fannie Mae Morgan, Thompson Glenn, Ruth Jones, Sarah Thompson and Sallie Aurelia Jeter.

Eloise, a proud mother and loving grandmother, loved sharing stories about family, immediate and extended.  She was a natural at hospitality and loved to entertain guests.  If you came to her home, she would make sure you felt welcomed and didn’t leave hungry.  She was quick-witted and didn’t miss a beat.  She also had a great sense of humor and was just a lot of fun.  She loved to travel, especially with her BFF/RDFL (Best Friend Forever and Road Dog for Life), Pam, her daughter-in-law.

Eloise was a faithful member of the former St. Luke AME Zion Church in Asheville, NC (which later merged with Varick Chapel AME Zion Church) where she served on the Stewardesses Board, Usher Board, as a choir member, and as a life member of the Women’s Home & Overseas Missionary Society (WH&OMS), to name a few.  Most importantly, Eloise was rooted and grounded in her Faith, Trust, Hope and Love in and of Jesus Christ.

Eloise leaves to cherish her life with joyful memories, her children, James (Charlotte) of Greensboro, NC, Robert “Gene”(Marcia) of Warner Robins, GA, Dale of Asheville, NC, Cecilia of Columbus, OH; daughters-in-law, Pam (the late Alphonso “Mutt” of Cullowhee, NC) and Wanda (late Kenneth “Pop”) of Raleigh, NC; sister-in-law, Jessie DeGraffinreid of Roebuck, SC; grandchildren, Craig (Traci), Brian (Tyesha), Cetera, Kenneth Z., Gina, Gabrielle, Alphonso “Al”, Karen, Matthew; five great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild, and a host of nieces, nephews, and loving relatives and friends.

Services for Mrs. Degraffinreid will be held on Wednesday February 19, at Hopkins Chapel AME Zion Church, 21 College Place, Asheville, NC 28801. Family will receive friends at 11 a.m. and the Homegoing service starts at noon.

Interment will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, 962 Old Hwy 70, Black Mountain, NC 28711

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Amyloidosis Foundation at http://amyloidosis.org/ or make donations to the Coach Mutt DeGraffenreid Scholarship Fund for football players at Western Carolina University at https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/5123/donations/new?donation_type=general.  (Choose “other” as the designation and type in Coach Mutt DeGraffenreid Football Scholarship).

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