Mrs. Helen Elaine Lawhorn was born on August 10, 1949 in Elgin, SC.  She was the oldest child of the late Herbert Gripper, Sr. and Mamie Margaret Parker.  She departed this life on Friday, August 14, 2015 at Palmetto Health Richland Memorial Hospital.

She was educated in the public schools of South Carolina and a dedicated employee of Richland School District 2 , where she drove school buses until her health failed.  She was devoted member of the New Jerusalem #2 Southern United Apostolic Church where she was baptized at an early age and continued to worship until her health declined.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Johnny and Charles Gripper; two sisters, Hazel Outten and Rosie Gripper.

Mrs. Lawhorn leaves to mourn her passing; a daughter, Annie Lee Gripper (Harry McFadden); four sons, Ronnie Gripper, Luther (Carolyn) Gripper, Woodrow Lawhorn, Jr. and Quanterio Lawhorn; siblings, Ervin (Velma) Gripper of Lugoff, Willie (Robin) Gripper of Orangeburg, Patricia (Herbert) Wilson, Peggy Parker, Wilhemina Parker all of Columbia, Helen Green, Ida Gripper, Jessie Gripper and Herbert Gripper all of Connecticut; 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, a host of uncles, aunts and other relatives and friends, all of whom will miss her dearly.