Frances L. Tench

Frances L. Tench, age 63 of Clarkesville, passed away Thursday, January 29, 2009, at Northeast Georgia Medical Center following a sudden illness.

Born in Habersham County on October 7, 1945, she was the daughter of Ruby Jones Free and the late Oscar Benjamin Chitwood. Mrs. Tench was an LPN with Habersham County Medical Center having served for 23 years. She believed in living life to the fullest and enjoyed the outdoors and animals. She also loved to spend quality time with her family, especially her six grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by stepfather, Robert Free.

Surviving are loving husband, Freddy Tench of Clarkesville; daughters and sons-in-law, Peggy & Gary Gragg of Clarkesville and Marie & Daryl Fortenberry of Demorest; sons, Marvin Lee Lynch, Jr of Clarkesville and Scot Tench & his fiancé, Marilyn Hancock of North Augusta, South Carolina; mother, Ruby J. Free of Clarkesville; brother and sister-in-law, Albert and Frances Chitwood of Clarkesville; sister and brothers-in-law, Grace and Glen Chastain of Alto and Bessie and John Green of Mt. Airy; grandchildren, Amanda Stapler, Thalitha Lynch, Cody Lynch, Kristy Fortenberry, Emilee Lynch and Megan Gragg; a number of nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, January 31, 2009 from the Chapel of McGahee-Griffin & Stewart with Pastor Donnie Ballenger, Rev. Lester Haynes and Rev. Bill Trotter officiating. Interment will follow at the Mt. Vernon Fire Baptized Holiness Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2-4 & 6-8pm on Friday. Those serving as pallbearers will be employees of the Demorest Water Department. The family is at the residence of daughter, Marie Fortenberry, 1025 Fairview School Road, Demorest, GA 30535.

An online guest register is available at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.

McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia (706.778.8668) is in charge of arrangements.