FRANCES SUGG HEYWARD
Nov. 10, 1926-Feb. 28, 2008
Frances "Frankie" Sugg Heyward, 81, passed away peacefully into the Kingdom of Heaven, at home, surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008. She was born in Princeton, Nov. 10, 1926, daughter of the late William Perry Sugg and Louise Massey Sugg. She was preceded in death by her sister Annie Louise Woodard.
During her three months of cancer illness, she was kept wonderfully comfortable by Lower Cape Fear Hospice. She was in great spirits and welcomed, and thoroughly enjoyed, the company of her loving family and friends.
Frankie graduated from Princeton High School in 1943 at age 16, and she graduated from Greensboro College in 1947 at age 20. While attending Greensboro College, she participated in a number of varsity sports, earned her degree in English, and was voted the school's "Most Popular" student during her senior year.
Following college, Frankie taught English at Mocksville and Lexington High Schools in North Carolina. While a teacher at Lexington, the High School Annual was dedicated in her honor by the students whose lives she so positively influenced.
Frankie was married Feb. 16, 1952, in Louisville, Ky., to Robert Miller Heyward Sr. of Goldsboro, who was her devoted husband of 56 years. She is survived by her four children, Patricia Heyward McDonald, husband, Tod, and grandson, Beau, of Wilmington; Robert Miller Heyward Jr., wife, Charlene, and grandchildren, Madison and Miller of Atlanta, Ga.; Craig Rhett Heyward, wife, Pamela, and grandchildren, Tayler, Emily, Evan and Lara of Atlanta, Ga.; and Brent Barnwell Heyward, wife, Felicia, and grandchildren, Kristina and Austin of Raleigh. Her surviving siblings are Raymond Massey Sugg and Bill Joe Sugg of Princeton, and sister, Nancy Sugg Smith of Wilmington. Additionally, there are her many nieces and nephews that she loved so dearly.
During her 30 years in Louisville, Frankie was an active, faithful member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church where she also taught Sunday School. Through her church and other community activities, she quickly developed lifelong friends.
Frankie celebrated life every day and devoted her life to her husband, to nurturing her children and grandchildren, and to the service of others. She had a remarkable ability to bring out the best in all the lives she touched and exhibited a unique interest and friendship with her children's friends. She was a precious, modest, sister-in-Christ who displayed a quiet strength and grace, and a great love for others. She was a very active member of the United Methodist Church her entire life and has served the Meals on Wheels program for 16 years in addition to numerous other charitable organizations. She kept physically fit and enjoyed strong friendships with the New Hanover Regional Hospital Cardiac Rehabilita-tion exercise group and the ladies golf group at Cape Fear Country Club. Further, she stayed closely connected with many other friends through activities such as her bridge club and the Sand Dollar investment club.
A memorial service, to celebrate the life of Frankie, will be conducted by the Revs. Bob Bauman, P.D. Midgett, and Laura Mitchell at Wrightsville United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 8 at 11 a.m. A graveside service will be held at the Princeton Cemetery at 5 p.m. that same day.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 2222 S. 17th St., Wilmington, NC 28401, Wrightsville United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 748, Wrightsville Beach, N.C., 28480, or a charity of choice.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.andrewsmortuary.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 2, 2008 11:18 AM