Frankie (Richards) Fletcher

On March 28, 2020, Frankie Ruth Richards Fletcher left this world to go to her eternal home. She was surrounded by her children, John Ed, James Mack, and Mary Frank, including their spouses and all the grandchildren.

Mrs. Fletcher’s family owned a bi-centennial farm on the border of Tennessee and Kentucky, which later became Ft. Campbell.  After leaving the family farm, at the invitation of the U.S. Government, the family acquired land in Robertson County.  Frankie was born on January 17, 1948 to the late James Selvyn and Kathryn Southall Richards.  She was the ninth child of a family of ten children and the first one to be born in a hospital.

There was a huge snow the day Frankie was born. A friend of the family, Frank Taylor Jones, offered to borrow a jeep from Bill Lemmons and take them to the hospital.  His only request was if it was a boy, to name it after him since he was an old bachelor. Seventy-one years later and the story is still being told. My dad said, “what the heck, if it is a girl, we will name her after you.”

Her oldest brother, James Eugene Richards, nicknamed “Beanie” by his older sister Estelle, was in the Navy. When he got over the shock of Mom having the ninth child, he wrote home requesting if it is a girl to name her Carol Ruth. That is how she got my name, Frankie Ruth.

The year she was born her sister, Louise, died on an iron lung from polio at Vanderbilt.

Growing up in a Christian home, Frankie accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior and joined the Cedar Hill Methodist Church.

Upon marrying the love of her life, Mack Fletcher Jr. on November 22, 1967, she moved her membership to Adams United Methodist Church (UMC). She served faithfully as Treasurer for the church President and Secretary of UMC, along with serving as a District officer.  She loved teaching Sunday School and children’s sermons, attending Layman’s Dinners, participating at Bible School, being in the choir, and hosting District Meetings.

Although she never was in the choir at Jo Byrns, she loved singing.  It did not have to be on key, just a joyful noise.

When all the Cokesbury hymnals were given in the honor of Mack and Frankie for their love of singing in the choir, their hearts were touched, as well as, the Special Mission Recognition by the Adams United Methodist Women.

Upon leaving her lifetime home in Adams and moving to Springfield, Frankie was welcomed into another church family, Springfield First United Methodist Church. She transferred her membership on April 22, 2007, where she answered the calling to serve on the church’s Stephen Ministry Team.

Frankie loved her jobs and her colleagues.  She contributed being elected Register of Deeds by knowing and helping all the hard-working farmers who she met while working at Farm Credit Services. While serving as Register of Deeds, she served as Secretary/Treasurer of Middle Tennessee Association for two years.

She was happy and thankful to have two jobs in her lifetime.

Frankie was truly touched by all the friends and family, too many to name and you know who you are, who on this unexpected journey expressed so many acts of kindness, whether a visit, card, phone call, text, food, especially prayers for her and her family, she loved them all.

Frankie leaves to cherish fond memories sons, John Ed (Julie) Fletcher, James Mack (Emily) Fletcher; daughter, Mary Frank Fletcher (Lyle) Payne; grandchildren, Corey Beth (Benton) Stott, Katie Fletcher (Josh) Lowe, Kyle Fletcher, Jake Fletcher, Boone Fletcher, Levi Fletcher, Allyson Payne (Charles) Manfredi, Rachel Payne and Reese Payne; great granddaughter, Lucy Kate Lowe;  sisters, Mary Kathryn Sprouse, Vickie (George) Anderson; brothers, Thomas Richards; sisters-in-law, Edelyne Richards, Mitzi Fletcher Head, Mona Fletcher Bryant and other relatives including special friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Mack Fletcher Jr.; sisters, Estelle Watts Grambihlier, Louise Richards and Eve Johnson; brothers, James Eugene (Beanie), Robert Hunter and Johnny Richards.

In lieu of flowers, Frankie’s wishes were for donations to the Bartlett Cemetery in Cedar Hill, Tennessee where she will be laid to rest. All donations can be sent c/o Robertson County Funeral Home.

The family will hold a public Memorial Service in celebration of Frankie’s life at a future date to be announced

Robertson County Funeral Home in charge of arrangements

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