Obituary of Mary Frances Lee

Mary Frances Lee, 89, of Gaston, died August 11, 2015 from Alzheimer's. Mrs. Lee was born on May 13, 1926, in Centenary, SC, the daughter of the late Elly Major and Martha Mae Williford Rowell. Shortly after she was born, Mary Frances and her family moved to Marion, SC, where she spent the first 13 years of her life. At age 12, her father died as a result of injuries he sustained in WWI. At thirteen, Mrs. Lee and her mother moved to Gaston, SC, where her mother taught school at Gaston Elementary. Mary Frances graduated from Swansea High School in 1942. In July of 1944, she married her first husband, David V. Robinson, who was killed in action, a short time later, in 1945 while serving in the Army Air Corps during WWII. She then married her second husband, Francis Glaze Lee, on July 12, 1950, and the couple shared a union of more 61 years together. Francis died May 29, 2012. The couple had one son in 1960, Roger Brian Lee, who survives. Mary Frances graduated from the Baptist Hospital School of Nursing and became a Registered Nurse in July of 1950. She worked as an RN at the various hospitals throughout Columbia until her retirement in 1973. She took care of and helped countless numbers of people and was very proud of her accomplishments as being a nurse. And up until her final days, if anyone would ask her what her name was, she would respond by saying, "Mary Frances Lee, Registered Nurse." Mary Frances was sick and plagued by many health problems throughout her life and despite her ailments she would always put the well-being of those she cared for before the needs of herself, including her pets. Mrs. Lee was an author and a poet and even has a book of poetry to her name. She also appreciated the courage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and some of her last words included a quote from Dr. King stating, "People should be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin." In addition to her parents, first and second husbands, Mary Frances was preceded in death by many close friends and relatives. In addition to her son, she is survived by family members, Barbara Logan, Tommy and Joyce Lee, Sharon and David Hast, Harry and Robert Simpson, Larry Sloan, Jr. and cousin, Robin Moore; special friend, Becky Reeves; neighbor, John Whitaker; as well as her cat, Kitten. Roger would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Agape Senior Assisted Living, and Lexington Medical Center for the care and compassion they showed Mrs. Lee during her final days. He would also like to thank the ladies at Famous Hair Salon for their hospitality and patience while dressing Mrs. Lee's her hair for so many years. A funeral service will be held at 3:00 P.M., on Friday, August 21, 2015 at Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC 29209. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park Serenity Gardens. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.