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Established 1948   The Herald Democrat Sherman - Frankie Geneva Smith was born December 8, 1912, daughter of John Daniel and Sarah Moletha Gray Smith in the Ida community of north Texas. She passed away Monday, April 28, 2014 at The Homestead of Sherman. Graveside services were held Thursday morning, May 1, 2014 at Cedarlawn Memorial Park (Chapel on the Hill). Rev. Danny Wood of West Sherman Baptist Church officiated. Interment followed immediately after the service. Frankie spent her early years on the family farm. She was the youngest of 11 children, 7 of whom lived to adulthood, all raising their own children on, or near, the Ida community. Her siblings were: Maudie Smith Prichard and husband, Austin; Velma Smith Martin and husband, Frank; Zelma Smith Cole and husband, Creed; Homer Smith and wife, May; Webster Smith and wife, Ada; and J.D. Smith and wife, Jewell. Frankie eventually raised her own 4 children with husband Weldon on a farm near Luella. The children were: Weldon Earl Nelson, Jr.; Mary Jane Nelson; Joan Nelson; and Barbara Nelson. Sometime in 1929, at a cakewalk at Providence School near Luella, a mutual friend and teacher, Mrs. Vera Vaden, introduced Frankie to Weldon Earl Nelson, Sr. Weldon bought Frankie's cake and immediately decided she was the best cook he had ever met. They courted only a short time before he proposed marriage. Frankie told him she would have to think about it. After pondering the question for approximately 15 minutes, she said, "Yes." After a few days spent planning a wedding, and to avoid the 3-day waiting period Texas licenses demanded, the couple drove across the border into Oklahoma. There they could purchase the wedding license, obtain the necessary blood tests, and say "I do." all in the same day. On November 23, 1929, as they sat in the front seat of the car, and Weldon's parents in the back seat as witnesses, Baptist minister, R.C. Miller stood at the driver's side window and performed the ceremony. Quite likely, it was the only such ceremony Rev. Miller ever performed, and it was certainly enough to last the new Mr. and Mrs. Weldon Nelson. She cooked for him for 54 years before his death in 1983. Frankie heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and chose to serve him as her Lord when she was only 14 years of age. Because Ida ch urch did not have a baptistery, she was baptized at Forest Avenue Baptist Church in Sherman along with 20 others. In later years, she and Weldon became members of Luella First Baptist Church and East Sherman Baptist Church. Frankie taught Sunday School classes for over 50 years. She was most recently a member of West Sherman Baptist Church. Frankie was small in stature and strong in her beliefs. She loved and supported her children, in school, church and community activities. She was forever faithful to her church, a loving grandmother, wonderful cook, an artist, and an author of short stories. Out of necessity, she learned to drive at the age of 70, and because of her great determination, she passed the test on her first attempt. Frankie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Weldon; son, Weldon Earl Nelson, Jr. and his wife, Dorothy Shelton Nelson; parents, John Daniel and Sarah Moletha Gray Smith; parents-in-law, Thomas Lee and Oppie Jane Jobe Nelson; all of her siblings; great-grandson, Derek Gibson; and great-granddaughter, Leslie Monk. She is survived by 3 daughters: Mary Jane Morphew and husband, Glen, of Luella, Texas; Joan Griffin and husband, Roy, of Sherman, Texas; and Barbara Monk and husband, Bob, of Sherman; grandchildren: Debbie Nicholas, Randy Morphew; Peggy Guthridge; Don Nelson; Curtis Nelson; Tamira Shallenberger; Gina Griffin; Bob Monk; Kevin Monk; and Steven Monk. There are also many great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and countless dear friends left to cherish Frankie's memory. In lieu of flowers and other remembrances, the family would be honored by memorial donations to any of these organizations - West Sherman Baptist Church, the Homestead of Sherman, Home Hospice of Grayson County. Arrangements were under the direction of Dannel Funeral Home.  Cedarlawn Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |