Frances Elizabeth Love Thomas

Frances Elizabeth Love Thomas, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, age 95, passed from this life on January 28th while in hospice care at the home of her son, George, in Raleigh, NC. Frances’ long-time physician, Dr. Benjamin Kirk, said of her condition prior to death, “she was blessed in life though she simply outlived what her body could physically support.” Viewing will take place at 10:30 am on Saturday, February 3rd at Dilworth United Methodist Church (605 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC) followed at 11:00 am by a Celebration of Life with The Reverend Michelle Chappell officiating. Interment will follow at Love’s Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery (808 S Love Chapel Rd, Stanfield, NC). She was a life-long Methodist.

Frances was born on August 3, 1928, in Stanfield, NC, the youngest child of William Columbus Love and Minnie Ann Love. Frances’ children and grandchildren delighted in hearing the stories she told of growing up in the Great Depression, of watching her grandmother sing and play the old pump organ, and her mother hosting the church’s preachers and local schoolteachers for Sunday dinners. Though she was never in a choir, Frances always sang as she went about her daily duties at home. Those hymns and songs heard by her children are forever embedded in our hearts. Frances kept singing to the end. One of her last songs, sung while confined to bed, was “Good morning to you! We’re all in our places with sunshiny faces. And this is the way - to start a new day!” A new day, indeed, for Frances, now at home with her Lord. Thanks be to God.

Frances met and married Frealon Ed Thomas, Sr. in 1946, following his return home from military service in England. Stricken soon-after by polio while setting up house upstairs in the Old Doc Sossoman home near Hartsell’s Funeral Home in Midland, NC, Frances told of being carried to Duke Hospital by way of the funeral home’s hearse because the local ambulance was not in service. Doctors did not expect her to walk again and were making preparations to place her in an iron lung. But Frances did recover, and always attributed this blessing to fervent prayers, and physical therapy offered at the hospital. Now having lived a full and accomplished life, Frances once again will ride in a hearse, this time to her body’s resting place next to her beloved husband.

Frances was first employed by Bell Telephone in the 1940s before moving with her husband, Ed, to Charlotte where they reared three children. She was later employed by ESSO  at the Southeastern Regional Accounting Center in Charlotte. Following the company’s restructuring and consolidation to Texas headquarters in the 1970s, Frances put her skills to work as supervisor of tax collection for Mecklenburg County. She enjoyed working with the team of deputy collectors and was most proud of the part she was able to play in helping to bridge records and processes to today’s digital age. Frances retired in 1993, at which point she dedicated her life to family, friends, and neighbors. Especially important was her church family, the summers spent with all her grandchildren, and visits with family, both in and out of state. Life after retirement was good. Frances loved gardening, sewing, and crocheting, as well as serving as secretary of her church women’s circle. She loved nature. The Jenny Wrens always had a welcome home in her front door mailbox, the chipmunks in her flower beds, and the rabbits in her back garden. (The squirrels, however, were not so lucky!) From her childhood dog, Pally Boy,” to “Mister” and “Lady” the Border Collies, to “Moses,” her rescued Shih Tzu and “Molly” the Lhasa Apso, Frances always enjoyed having a pet to love and keep company. After she moved to Raleigh, following a fall while pruning a tree at age 91, Frances asked Dr. Kirk about her health. “You’re fine, Frances,” he said, “your only issue is birthdays!”

Frances Love Thomas is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Frealon Ed Thomas, Sr., and siblings, Willene Austin, John D. Love, Heath W. Love, and Edwin Love. Surviving is her sister-in-law Dorothy B. Love (John D.), and loving children, The Rev. Cynthia Frances Thomas Hinson (Yancy, deceased) of Conroe, TX; Frealon Ed Thomas, Jr. (Pia) of Palm Coast, FL; and George Gregory Thomas (Christina) of Raleigh, NC. Frances also has six grandchildren, Yancy G. Hinson III of Willis TX; Elizabeth A. Franklin (Jason) of Willis, TX; William T. Hinson of Spring, TX; Ditte T. Simard (Jay), Frealon E. Thomas III, both of Palm Bay, FL; and Lisa C. O’Conner (Kendall) of Charlotte, NC. There are also three great-grandchildren, Caeden Hinson, Chloe Hinson, and Anna Frances Franklin.

The family remains grateful to our mother’s friends, neighbors, and various support communities and those who filled her final years with love and meaning. Especially appreciated has been the support of Heartland Hospice of Raleigh and nursing care provided by Teresa Isaacson. Memorials may be made to Dilworth United Methodist Church (605 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203) or the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children (2900 N Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607).

Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is serving the Thomas family.