Frances Spence Emory

Garner, N.C. – Frances Spence Emory, 94, passed away January 24th at Spring Arbor of Cary. A native of Harnett County and resident of Garner, Wake County since 1951, she was the daughter of the late Carson Freeman Spence and Bessie Dean Spence.

Frances grew up on a tobacco farm in Harnett County. At age 17 she moved to Durham, working as a telephone operator with Southern Bell. She soon met the love of her live, Dan Emory, who always called her “Frank”. They married in 1947 and two years later she gave birth to their daughter, Ronda. Dan joined the North Carolina State Highway Patrol in 1951 and was stationed in Wake County. They moved to Garner where they made their life long home with many good friends.

Frances worked for Addressograph-Multigraph in Cameron Village, later buying out her camera department and opened her own business, “Village Graphics”. Always the picture of style and beauty, in the 1970s Frances was named Best Dressed Businesswoman in Raleigh. After retirement she pursued her love of antiquing, collecting North Caroline pottery, beautiful linens, and quilts. Frances was a devout Christian and member of the First Baptist Church of Garner, NC.

Frances is survived by her only child, a daughter, Ronda E. Swindell and husband, Charles of Raleigh; grandson Clarke Taylor Swindell and wife, Apple Grace of Atlanta, GA, and granddaughter Lauren Elizabeth Swindell (who lovingly named her “Mama Frank” at the age of 2) and husband Garrison Ries, of Charlottesville, VA; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Frances was preceded in death in 2015 by her loving husband of 68 years, Danny R. Emory; her siblings and their spouses, Wiley Spence and wife Hazel of Durham; Sally June Brown and husband Robert of Fuquay-Varina; Barbara Spence Goss and husband Sherrill of Fuquay-Varina; Sandra Dean Spence of Fuquay-Varina; and Steve Carson Spence of Fuquay-Varina.

A graveside celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, January 30th in the mausoleum chapel at Montlawn Memorial Park, 2911 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh, NC 28603.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Hospital for Children, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105,    800-822-6344 or www.stjude.org/give