Monday, December 7, 2020

Frances Pearson

Frances Eva Kitchens Pearson, of Oxford, Miss., formerly of Louisville, Miss., died December 7, 2020 at The Blake assisted living facility in Oxford. She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-seven years, Dr. Silas Wesley Pearson, Jr., her mother Eva Griffith Kitchens Webb, her father Earl Brewer Kitchens, and her brother Earl Griffith “Buck” Kitchens.

Mrs. Pearson was born in New Albany, Miss., on February 16, 1926, where her father was a foreman for the GM&O Railroad. She later moved to Louisville, Miss., and graduated from Louisville High School in 1945. She attended Draughon’s Business College and during World War II served in a munitions factory in Prairie, MS.

She married Dr. Pearson of Louisville in April of 1947, following his honorable discharge from the Army Air Corps in 1946. The couple resided in Oxford until Dr. Pearson completed his B.A. degree at the University of Mississippi, and then moved to Memphis, Tenn., in 1950, where he entered the University of Tennessee School of Dentistry. In 1953, the couple moved back to Louisville and Dr. Pearson established a dental practice, where Mrs. Pearson worked alongside Dr. Pearson for many years, helping to manage the practice. The couple retired in 1993, and returned to Oxford in 2009.

After retirement, Dr. and Mrs. Pearson enjoyed traveling to the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, and across the United States. She particularly enjoyed visiting London, England. Her other interests included fine sewing and gardening. She was an active member of First Baptist Church of Louisville, teaching Sunday School for many years.

She leaves her daughter Betty Carole Pearson of Oxford, her son Wesley Brewer Pearson (Lisa) of Madison; her grandchildren Lauren Webb Mitchell (Luke) of New York, N.Y., Carole Lee Webb of Oxford, and James Wesley Webb (Katherine) of Oxford; her great-grandson Henry Jackson Wesley Mitchell of New York, N.Y.; and her sister Bettye Ann Kitchens DeBerry of Tupelo.

A graveside service for family and interment will be held at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, December 10, at Memorial Park Cemetery in Louisville, with Rev. Mike Childs officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, or the charity of your choice.