Jeanette Drakeford Tritapoe

Jeanette Drakeford Tritapoe passed away peacefully on March 8, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Born on August 1, 1930, in Graniteville, South Carolina, to Fred Wyman and Mildred Drakeford, she grew up during the years following the Great Depression alongside her sister Edith. She graduated from Graniteville High School and later married Harry G. Tritapoe after a blind date arranged by a close friend. Together they built a life first in South Carolina, then in Aiken, and finally in Signal Mountain, Tennessee, in 1965, where they raised their four sons.

Jeanette was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served faithfully in many callings and cherished her time on a church mission in New Mexico. She found great joy in gardening, bird watching from her deck, visiting the South Carolina beaches, and observing the wildlife in her backyard. Above all, she treasured her family. Her home was filled with photographs and gifts from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, reflecting a lifetime of love and care. Known for her generous spirit and selfless nature, she placed the needs of others before her own and was famous for her fried chicken and warm hospitality that ensured no one left her table hungry.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry G. Tritapoe; her sister, Edith Drakeford Melton; and her granddaughter, Angela Rose Tritapoe. Jeanette is survived by her four sons, Curtis (Gail) Tritapoe, Fred (Elizabeth) Tritapoe, Jeff (Lynne) Tritapoe, and Mike (Diana) Tritapoe; fourteen grandchildren; and twenty great-grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.