WOODLEAF — Foster Road has never seen so much traffic.

Since Lakeina Monique Francis died violently two weeks ago while serving her country, family, friends and complete strangers have come by her home, arms filled with food and bouquets of red, white and blue ribbons.

Television vans and reporters with bulky cameras have filled the yard.

Even people who had never before met the Francis family are finding ways to honor her. A Veterans Day parade. A scholarship fund. A funeral reception.

And how has the family — which moved from Goldsboro deep into this rural pocket of Rowan County only a year ago — taken all this newfound attention?

“We take it in stride,” said Ronald Francis, sitting at a kitchen table covered with Navy certificates, a pen and signed letter from President Clinton. “We’re Francises. Francises stay focused ... This tragedy has brought everyone together.”

Lakeina Francis was one of 17 Navy personnel to die Oct. 12 aboard the USSCole. A terrorist bomb ripped a hole in the side of the destroyer as it refueled in a port on the coast of Yemen in the Middle East.

Lakeina Francis, a mess management specialist in the Navy, had just begun her military career. She had been on the Cole only two weeks, her first time at sea.

Since her death, resident Barbara Harrison has worked with attorneys to set up a scholarship fund to benefit Lakeina’s two teen-age brothers, James and David Francis. Both play football for West Rowan High School.

Others are working to dedicate this year’s Veterans Day parade in Francis’ memory. As a child, Lakeina wanted to be famous and in a parade, said Janie Hampton, who is helping to organize the event.

“She always wanted a parade. So as far as I’m concerned, she deserves a parade,” Hampton said. “I just think we owe it to her. If this girl’s going to be nationally recognized, she should be honored locally, too.”

The family has been overrun with phone calls and visitors while preparing for Lakeina’s funeral on Saturday.

A tribute service takes place at 11 a.m. at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Cleveland.

The family will be at the church from 9:30 to 11 a.m. for visitation.

Cornerstone Baptist Church is on Clearview Drive in Cleveland, just off Amity Hill Road, in the vicinity of Freightliner. From Salisbury, take a left at the second stoplight at Freightliner onto Amity Hill Road. The church is visible from Amity Hill Road.

A graveside service with military honors follows at 1 p.m. at the new part of the National Cemetery in Salisbury, located at the Hefner VA Medical Center on Brenner Avenue.

The family has invited the public to attend the services.

Graham Funeral Service in Mocksville is in charge of arrangements.

A reception will be held at the Salisbury Civic Center at 3 p.m., where as many as 500 people are expected.