On Saturday, February 6, 2021, Salena Alexandra Handley, loving wife and mother, passed away at the age of 46. Salena was preceded in death by her mother, Debra. She is survived by her husband Mike, two children, Graham and Lexi, her father Ernie, her brother and several extended family members.
Salena was born on June 6, 1974 in Hialeah, Florida to Debra (Hunt) and Ernest Zapetis III. She was raised deep in the mountains of North Carolina in Cowee and Franklin. She graduated from Franklin High School and attended Western Carolina University and then later East Carolina University. She ran off and married Mike in the back of a feed store in Sevierville, Tennessee on November 27, 1993 and then married him again a month later in the Saint Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church in Franklin, North Carolina on December 27, 1993. She always claimed she deserved two anniversaries and as most things go, she was always right. Mike and Salena moved to Raleigh when he took a job with the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency. Salena quit school to stay at home and raise their children, Graham and Lexi. Salena worked for the Wake Forest United Methodist Church in the nursery for 12 years. She headed up the Mothers Mornings Out Program and was a member of the Playground Committee for the church.
Salena loved taking care of children, hers and others. Nothing would put a smile on her face faster than holding a baby. She had an incredible loving and selfless personality that always put others before herself without seeking any acknowledgement or recognition for her many acts of loving kindness. She was as brilliant as she was beautiful. She was a firm believer in being honest in her words and her actions. If you ever found yourself in an argument with her, you often found yourself at the mercy of her quick wit and passionate temper. However, after the argument you would also find yourself embraced by a tearful, warm, loving hug. She loved her tall foggy mountains as much as her time on the beach. Whenever a large rolling thunder storm came through you could find her sitting on the porch and listening to the rain. The sound of a heavy rain made her happy. She was a wonderful wife and mother who loved her children and all of her family beyond all measure.
We will certainly plan a celebration of life service at some time in the future when it is safe to gather at a time and place to be determined. Salena had many causes she championed, the woman was the patron saint of many worthy causes in this world. However, none more than her children. Salena quit college to stay home and care for them and always wanted them to get a good college education. It was certainly her largest and most pressing concern. She was still in the midst of paying off her college debt and promised not to burden her children with that same issue. To that end, in remembrance of Salena, any donations for Graham's and Lexi's college education is most certainly appreciated and checks can be sent directly to their College Foundation of North Carolina 529 Plan. If interested in donating, please contact one of the following (email is preferable). We can give you the account information and instructions.
• Sonia Joyner 919-302-7555 soniajoyner@aol.com
• Jim Crawford 919-349-2429 enzyme.specialist.crawford@gmail.com
• Mike Handley 919-218-7795 mhandley@nc.rr.com
Donations can also be sent directly to Michael Handley, 7004 Sandy Pines Drive, Youngsville, NC 27596-9126.
Service Details.
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Salena Alexandra Handley
June 6, 1974 – February 6, 2021
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Mike and Family, I am so very sorry. While I never had the privilege of meeting her, she sounds like a wonderful lady. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Salena was my first friend in Franklin when we moved there in the mid-80s. I met her at St. Francis. She was a part of our youth group. She was friendly, upbeat and a ray of sunshine. Salena was a tough person who took the good with the bad and made the best of it. So sorry to hear of her passing. She gets to be with Deb now and listen to her mom play guitar again. I hope those two are sharing a big laugh like they always did.
I am completely devastated to hear this news!!! This isnu2019t how it was supposed to be! Salena had a pact with us u201cold ladiesu201d that she was going to care for us when we were old in our wheelchairs in the nursing home and we were always going to hold this young lady to thus promise!!! Su00e1lenle and I just talked about this the last time I saw her with Mike in the spring before shutdown, as they met me near the airport in Raleogh before I hopped the plane back to WA state!! Mike, Lexi, and Graham ( and Ernie! Love you always and forever!!!) I am so very deeply sorry or this tremendous loss, and I send you prayers, love and strength! I will chioose to remember her as the day I met her, She turned Mikeu2019s head completely around when she came bouncing in with the big fluffy curly hair and beautiful green eyes, huge smile, t-shirt and jeans and disappeared around the corner and she had captured his heart in that very moment! Such a great live story of such sacrifices as we watched their relationship and love unfold in front of our eyes! We went to wedding planning trips (to visit Deb and Ernie, too!! Most memorable moment when Ed ate a dog treat from the candy bowl on the coffee table!!), and the beautiful church service after their storybook elopement , I remember the green velvet dress, the wonderful water chestnut wrapped in bacon -and barbecue sauce munchies at the reception, and the napkins and matchbooks that had the original February wedding date embossed on them!! We visited the newlyweds at their place several times, in the Mountains, the beat party in their himnos trailer where my brother got to hang out with me as an adult for the first tine, and they joined us for monumental events like our reunion in Charlotte before I moved back to WA, Trinau2019s wedding and the funeral after our buddy Erv passed from Cancer. In our talks I know how proud Salena was of her children, amd that she valued being a Mom, and I know Mike walrus to treat her like a princess and shower her with love since the moment he laid eyes on her! My deepest sympathies, may you Rest In Peace my beautiful young friend! I hope you are watching over your loved ones in Debu2019s embrace, and I will see you again one day!!
Mike and family, I didn't have the fortune of meeting Salena; however, working with Mike through PHRANC and NC Housing Finance Agency was a peek at what a wonderful soul she was. My deepest condolences on the loss of such a loving, selfless giving and inspirational young woman. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Mike, I am so very sorry for your loss. My sincerest condolences to you and your family. Love and peace to you all. Phillip Gibson
Mike, Graham and Lexi, we are so sorry to hear about Salena. I am not 100% sure if I had the pleasure of meeting her at one of the PHRANC conferences, but knowing Mike, she had to be an amazing person who shared a lot of the same values. Open, honest, transparent, from the heart and always with best intentions. Our hearts and prayers are with you. Jimmy Cox and the rest of us here at the Lexington Housing CDC.
My deepest condolences for your loss. May the love of family and friends help you and the children through this. Michael Kepley
Mike and family, the staff of Sandhills Community Action Program (David, Nina, and Karen) offer our prayers on your behalf and will keep the hopes and wishes of Salena that she had toward you and your children in our prayers to the end that they may still come true as much as possible..
A while ago, Salena sent me some pictures she had found of us when we were younger. She laughed heartily after viewing the photos about how 80's we obviously were in those days. Big hair. Loud clothes. Posing like teen girls who owned the world... and adamant that some of those things we did ... we would never let our teens do! She adored Graham and Lexi. In the few times we spent catching up, the kids always ‘took the lead' in her updates. And, back when I heard she married Mike through the small town grapevine, she just threw back her head and said, I just know. And that, was IT. End of story. She was so loved and she smiled at life the same way her mother did. I am grateful she was a small part of my raisin'. And, the entire family will be on my heart as you navigate this tragic circumstance.
Dear Mike, I was notified through your PHRANC family regarding this terrible news. While I didn't get the pleasure of meeting your beautiful wife at the conferences, I did get to know you and got a full sense of her warm and loving being in that beautiful tribute. What a gift to have known a love like this in a devoted wife and mother. Sending you heartfelt prayers, wishes for peace and so much healing during this time as you work toward a new normal you never wanted. Your children are so lucky to have you as their father to guide them toward the life Selena wanted for them. Hang in. Warmly, Kelly Pritchard ( former NCCDAPHRANC conference Asst.)
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