Frances Elizabeth King Woodruff passed away on Wednesday, April 24th, surrounded by her loving family. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, April 28th, at Flower Ridge Methodist Church, with Rev. Keith Williams officiating. Visitation will be Saturday from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Porter Funeral Home, and on Sunday from 1:00 P.M. until service time at the church. Interment will be in Flower Ridge Cemetery.
Frances was born to William A. and Winona E. (Rennie) King on March 15, 1944, in Louisville, MS. She graduated from Louisville High School in 1963. She went to a trade school in Jackson. She was married to Franklin L. Woodruff, Sr., in 1965.
Frances worked at Taylor Machine Works and Spartus as a key punch operator. In later years, she worked the polls across Winston County and enjoyed getting to know the voters.
Frances painted, cross-stitched, sewed, quilted, and knitted. She owned a fabric shop and ceramic shop named Country Ceramics. She was a dairy farmer with her husband. She loved to hold tea parties with her granddaughter. Her greatest joy in life was being a Nana to her five grandchildren and her four great-grandchildren.
Historian, organizer, artist, genealogist, and patriot are all words that can best describe Frances. More fitting than those are daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, because family meant more to her than anything else.
Frances was active in many organizations throughout her life. She was a member of the Jayceettes, where she held the title of President for both the local and state chapters. She was a member of the Louisville Little Theater where she made some customs, made sets and was in a few plays. She, being an avid genealogist, was a member of the DAR, UDC, Flaggin and Trenches, War of 1812. While in the United Daughters of the Confederacy, she held the offices of President of the local chapter Winston Guards, many offices on the state level including President of the Mississippi Division, and on the national level Registrar General and Vice President General.
Frances wrote two books. The Kudzu Vine which is about her King family, and They Wore Gray that listed names of the soldiers of the Confederacy of Winston County. Frances was instrumental in getting the historical marker about Geirson Raid through Winston erected in front of the Community House, as well as the 45 unknown Confederate markers in the Masonic Cemetery. She was on the board of trustees for Beauvoir during her presidency of the Mississippi Division of the UDC. During her presidency, she saw the historical marker for the Jefferson Davis Marker erected in Grenada, MS.
Frances is preceded in death by her parents, William A. and Winona King.
Frances is survived by her husband Franklin, of 59 years, and her three loving children, Franklin L. Jr. (Trudy) Woodruff, Willam Marc (Callie) Woodruff, and Mary Elizabeth (Jason) Hemphill, all of Louisville. Grandchildren Katlin A. (Jay) Shotts of Louisville, Nathan Hemphill of Starkville John Hemphill of Starkville, Andrew (Christana) Woodruff of Flowood, and Richard (Brittany) Woodruff of Louisville. Great grandchildren Avery and Thomas Shotts, bonus great granddaughters Ashtyn Drury and Jaylee Loyd, all of Louisville. She was excited to learn that there were more to come.
Frances is also survived by her sister Lou (Ronnie) Eaves of Hattiesburg, MS brothers-in-law Bobby (Barbara) Woodruff of Guyton, GA and Terry (Karen) Woodruff of Ojai, CA and a host of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Andrew Woodruff, Richard Woodruff, Nathan Hemphill, John Hemphill, Jay Shotts, and Will Huntley.
Memorials in Frances’ memory may be made to Flower Ridge Methodist Church.