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Of the 104 people who died in North Carolina as a result of Hurricane Helene, 11 were in Henderson County.
They included sisters who died together in the home they shared, a man who drowned with his beloved service dog, a Pennsylvania man who came to help the community where he grew up, a local wine steward who had worked as a chef in New York and others who left behind friends, families and loved ones.
Their names were released this week by North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services. The following story includes information about each person who died in Henderson County.
Sisters Angela “Angie” Ruth Maybin Walker and Phyllis Ann Matheson died in a home on Balfour Road along with Michael Gene Matheson during Hurricane Helene. Michael Matheson is also believed to be related to sisters, according to law enforcement officials.
The three, who lived at 306 Balfour Road, died in the massive Clear Creek flooding when Helene hit Henderson County on Sept. 27. Their bodies were located at 310 Balfour Road on Sept. 29 inside their damaged home, according to an incident report from Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.
Born and raised in Henderson County, Phyllis Matheson, 61, loved her family and relied on a strong faith, according to her obituary.
“She would help anyone and never knew a stranger. She will be missed dearly,” according to the obituary.
Online comments on Phyllis’s obituary page mention her kindness to others.
“One thing I’ll remember about my aunt Phyllis is how she (was) always there for me and she loved me so much,” according to a comment from her niece. “She was a big part of my life and we had a special Aunt and Niece bond. It absolutely broke my heart in two when I hear that this horrible storm Helene took my sweet aunts. They’ll be missed dearly.”
“She was always kind and tried to help all she could,” another person commented.
Phyllis is survived by three children, five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Phyllis was the oldest of six children. Her siblings included her sister, 60-year-old Angie.
“Angie had a passion for listening to music, especially her beloved Elvis Pressley,” according to the obituary for Maybin Walker. “She enjoyed watching wrestling and had a great sense of humor and loved to amuse those around her.”
An online comment on Maybin Walker’s obituary from a niece described her dedication to her family.
“Aunt Angie was one of the best aunt's I could ever ask for. She was a joy to be around and was always there for people who she loved and she loved all of her family and friends. And I was very heartbroken when I heard that this horrible Hurricane Helene took my aunts away from me. I'll miss you very dearly Aunt Angie and I love you so much,” according the comment.
Walker is survived by a son, sisters, brothers and nieces and nephews.
Michael Gene Matheson, 65, was a native of Hayesville and loved music.
“Mike detailed cars for a living and was cherished for his warm spirit and profound love of country music,” according to his obituary. “Throughout his life, Michael found joy and solace in music, often playing his guitar and singing to family and friends. The happiness that he brought to those around him through his music will be fondly remembered and sorely missed.”
He is survived by a sister, two daughters, a son and many nieces and nephews.
George Wesley Drye, 65, died when he drowned along with his dog during the hurricane. His body was recovered on Sept. 30, according to information from North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services.
Drye prearranged his funeral plans with McEwen Funeral Services at Sharon Memorial Park in Charlotte. The funeral home posted only a one sentence obituary for Drye.
Susan Post, a funeral director at McEwen, said she tried for a month to find Drye’s relatives to expand his obituary but could not locate any family members. She did find a few friends who said they met Drye at a dog park in Hendersonville.
Drye died from drowning in his truck with his beloved German shepherd, she said.
An online comment to Drye’s obituary mentions his dog.
“George was a very kindhearted man. We talked daily and (he) was one of my closest friends,” according to the comment. “He loved ‘Blend’ his service dog with all his heart. When you saw George, you seen Blend. I will miss our talks and your stories. You both will be missed my friend but never forgotten.”
The body of 63-year-old Vicki Lynn Allen was recovered on Sept. 27 from flood water near her mobile home at 192 Journey Lane in Hendersonville Mobile Home Estates off Spartanburg Highway next to the Harris Teeter, according to a Hendersonville Police Department incident report.
Allen’s neighbors said shortly after the flood that she died when flood waters swept her away as she exited her home.
Some people in the mobile home park were rescued by a boat crew from outside Hendersonville.
A small stream that runs through the mobile home park grew to a raging river as the remnants of Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina. Water flooded into most of the homes in the park that calls itself Hendersonville’s First Retirement Park.
At one point during his escape from the mobile home park, one of Allen’s neighbors said he looked over at the street where she lived. He said he saw high water flowing down her street.
“I wish I was over there to save her,” he said.
A native of Portsmouth, Ohio, Allen is survived by two sons and other relatives.
Pennsylvania resident Christopher John Zserai, 52, died in Hendersonville on Oct. 27 when he fell from a tree while helping cleanup storm debris.
Zserai was born in Pennsylvania and lived in Hummelstown, Pa., at the time of his death. But he grew up in Hendersonville, according to news reports and his obituary. He returned to Hendersonville in the aftermath of Helene to assist in cleaning up the community where he grew up.
“He was called from deep in his heart to put his back into the effort to help in his beloved community of his childhood. His efforts as big as his heart. If you ever met him, you’ve heard his big laugh too,” according to his obituary. “He was a man who believed deeply in helping others. His generosity knew no bounds, he would lend a hand or even the shirt off his back to anyone in need.”
A story in November by Sean Adams on the PennLive.com website said Zserai did not hesitate to return to Hendersonville to help cleanup from Helene.
The story quoted Zserai’s wife, Laynie, as saying that her husband was an expert on heavy equipment with 25 years of experience as a professional tree remover.
He was “ready and willing to assist others with projects great and small, from trees to water and sewer lines. But despite his expertise, he always remained humble,” according to the PennLive story.
In addition to his wife, Zserai is survived by a daughter, two step-daughters, two brothers, numerous nieces and nephews and his mother-in-law.
James Sieminski, 72, of 2258 Bearwallow Road, drowned in the storm and was found on Sept. 28 when floodwaters receded, according the information from the state.
Sieminski was the wine steward at Burntshirt Winery and had studied culinary arts at the Culinary Institute of America and marketing at Stonehill College. He was from North Massapequa, New York, according to his Facebook page. He had also worked as a wine consultant at the Biltmore Estate and at the Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation, according to online information about Sieminski.
In a Facebook post on Sept. 27, Sieminski wrote “Hunker down huns! Helene ain’t playin.”
In a November Hendersonville Time-News article about Sieminski, his brother described his work as a chef in New York before an illness forced him to end that career. Sieminski moved to Hendersonville after his career as a chef ended, according to the article.
His brother described Sieminski in the article as a man with a big heart who loved to laugh.
Sieminski is survived by his brother and two nieces, according to the news obit.
Other Helene-related deaths in Henderson County included:
• Elizabeth Rose Mayes, 89. Mayes’s body was recovered on Sept. 30 amid her home’s debris that had been swept away in floodwaters.
• Thomas Mitchell Freeman, Bat Cave. Freeman died on Sept. 27 as a result of the storm.
• William Carl Cordell. Cordell died on Oct. 19. Information from the state on storm-related deaths shows that a 62-year-old male passed away in Henderson County on Oct. 19 from pre-existing health challenges and was unable to access oxygen in the days after the hurricane. It was unclear if that man was Cordell.
• Christopher Sylvester Haywood Dunbar died on Sept. 30. Information from the state on storm-related death shows that a 51-year-old male passed away in Henderson County on Sept. 30 from a pre-existing health condition deteriorated due to the storm and he did not return to baseline condition before passing. It was unclear if that man was Dunbar.