Frankie Anita Parker was born July 13, 1942, to Frank and Christine Kelly Parker in Dr. Kirk’s Hospital below Nanih Waiya School. She grew up living in Louisville and Corpus Christi, Texas, until the family returned to Louisville in 1955. She married Robert “Bob” Johns in 1959. They made their home in Louisville and raised three girls. She began nursing school at Meridian Junior College where she received her LPN degree. Later, she received her RN degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. She was head nurse at Tri-County Nursing Home for 13 years. She was known for her kindness and generosity to others and was a pleasure to work with and be around. She left Tri-County Nursing Home to start a personal care home venture in Louisville named Community Care Inn, which she ran for several years. Frankie took an administrative position with the State Department of Health in the Licensure and Certification area and was responsible for inspecting nursing homes for the north half of the state. She served on the Nursing Home Board of Health under Governor William Winter as well as two other governors; and she was awarded for her expertise and professional contribution to the nursing home program in the state. Years later she accepted a position as director of nursing at Jaquith State Hospital and remained there until her retirement from the state health system. Ever the professional student, she decided when she was more than 60 years old that she would return to school and she received her Family Nurse Practitioner degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Frankie took Bob with her to Alaska several times serving as a Nurse Practitioner working in different community clinics rendering care to the Alaskan people. Together, she and Bob travelled and made friends with people everywhere they went. Frankie worked here in Louisville for local doctors and has lately been working for Diamond Grove facility. Everywhere Mrs. Frankie has been and worked people respected her and loved her. A professional lady known for her kindness, she was a super sweet person and treated all people the same. If she knew anybody in need she was so quick and eager to help them get better.
Frankie is survived by her three daughters: Melinda Johns Richardson and husband Johnny, Tammie Johns Cherry and husband Billy, and Deborah Johns Halfacre and husband Paul all of Louisville. To say Granny Frankie loved her children and grandchildren is an understatement. She loved and nurtured each one and was very proud of each of their accomplishments. Among her greatest joys was being “Granny” to her eight grandchildren: Kendra Johns, Robert Johns, Jon (Meredith) Cherry, Addison (Justin) Jones, Kari, Ethan, Daniel (Kaitlyn), and Hagan Halfacre; as well as her six great-grandchildren: C. J., Marlei, Sawyer, Micah, Avey Clayton, Kyleighe Ray, and she was looking forward to the birth of her seventh great-grandchild in May. Frankie is also survived by her brother Barry (Paula) Parker and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and acquaintances. She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years Bob Johns, her parents, her sister JoAnn Parker Jennings, and her brother Leroy Parker.
Serving as pallbearers are Jon Cherry, C. J. Hagan, Daniel Halfacre, Ethan Halfacre, Hagan Halfacre, , and Robert Johns. Memorial contributions in honor of Frankie may be given to Poplar Flat Baptist Church, P. O. Box 684, Louisville, MS 39339.
Services are under the direction of Nowell-Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.
