Frances Turpen Ellington

Evans Funeral Home announces the death of Frances Turpen Ellington, 97, who passed away Thursday morning,?July 14, 2016 in Hospice Care with Allen Smith, her son in-law, at her bedside. Her dedication to her family and her dear friends has been an inspiration to all who were privileged to have shared in her unconditional love, her unceasing encouragement, her deep personal faith, and her boundless enthusiasm for life.          

 Born in Tupelo, MS on September 20, 1918, Frances was blessed with a loving family. She and her sister, Viola Hickey Turpen, were daughters of Roberta and Frank Turpen. A 1935 graduate of Brenau Academy, Frances acquired her teaching degree at Brenau College in Gainesville, GA. In 1939, her first job was teaching in Jefferson, GA at Martin Institute where she met and fell in love with John Ralph Ellington. She and Ralph married July 10, 1940, and she often liked to kindly remind her husband of over 50 years that it took a special woman to sweep a confirmed bachelor such as himself off his feet... Ralph, a local pharmacist, was 17 years older than Frances, and they both attributed their long life to the deep love shared between one another. As their two children, Sarah Frances and John, came along, Frances balanced the roles of loving wife and loving mother, while continuing to be heavily involved in the community. From her Presbyterian and Episcopalian roots, ironically Frances found her church home in the First Baptist Church of Jefferson, GA, where she served as a very active member until 2014. As their children reached school age, Frances attended the University of Georgia School of Pharmacy for 4 years and graduated in 1957, so that she and Ralph could serve the community together as pharmacists at Moore and Ellington Drug Company, until both retired in 1970.                                                                                                          Preceded in death by her husband, Ralph, and her sister, Hickey, Frances is survived by her son John Ellington (Sandra) and her daughter Sarah Smith (Allen); and her grandchildren and their spouses: Russell Smith (Fran), Jennifer Walker (Brett), Coleman Smith (Therie), David Ellington (Cathleen), and Elizabeth Elger (Joey), along with 10 great grandchildren.  Heartfelt thanks is expressed to Carolyn Griffith of Pruitt Hospice Care and the many, many kind and caring staff of The Oaks at Scenic View Nursing Home in Baldwin, GA for their loving and skilled care during Frances’s transition to the joy of her eternal life.

Funeral service will be Saturday July 16, 2016 at 10:00 AM in the First Baptist Church of Jefferson with Dr. Michael Helms officiating with private burial to follow in the Woodbine Cemetery.                                                                                                    

Family will receive friends Friday July 15, 2016 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Evans Funeral Home.  Evans Funeral Home, 1350 Winder Highway, Jefferson, GA 30549. 706-367-5467.  

Online condolences at www.evansfuneralhomeinc.com