Helen Raley Harman

Helen Raley Harman passed away peacefully on Friday, April 8, 2016, after a brief illness. A celebration of her life will be 11 a.m. Thursday, April 14, 2016, at First Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. Helen was born and raised in Montgomery, Ala. She was a graduate of Sidney Lanier High School and attended University of Montevallo, formerly known as Alabama College, and Auburn University, majoring in communication. There she met her husband, John F. Harman Jr. of Wilmington. Helen and John moved to Lexington in 1954, where he established Center Street Pharmacy. After Helen’s children were older, she began a career as a social worker at Davidson County Department of Social Services from which she retired after 22 years. She was active in numerous local groups including the Lexington Charity League, Lexington Garden Club, and Meals on Wheels. Helen loved traveling with John, entertaining, reading and sports. She was devoted to First Presbyterian Church in Lexington, where she served in numerous capacities for 60 years. She will be remembered for her charitable works, outgoing personality, humor, and kindness to friends and family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, John F. Harman Jr. who died in 2003; brother, Henry Raley; sisters, Lillian Crawley and Louise Raley; sister-in-law, Jean Raley; and brother-in-law, Col. Homer Crawley. Surviving are sons, John F. “Jack” Harman III of Lexington, James “Jim” R. Harman and wife Jeanie, of Welcome; daughter, Susan Harman-Scott and husband Robert L. Scott Jr. of Nags Head; grandchildren, Hilary Stautzenberger, Caroline Harman-Scott, Quincy Harman and Jennifer Powell; great-grandchild, John D. Stautzenberger; sister, Syble Farrow of Auburn, Ala.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Davidson Medical Ministries, P.O. Box 584, Lexington, NC 27293; Davidson County Community College Foundation, P.O 1287, Lexington, NC 27293-1287; or First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 586, Lexington, NC 27293.