Obituary of Frances H. "Frankie" Ruth Hester Gepford

Frances (Frankie) Ruth Hester Gepford, 87 of Madison, passed away October 16, 2016. Survived by her loving husband of 67 years Warren Gepford, daughters Donna Hines (Ken) of Las Vegas, NV and Patricia Parks (Michael) of Brentwood, TN, grandchildren Jil Maples (Neil) of Sevierville, TN, Amy Rodriguez (Ruben) of Fontana, CA, Chelsy Hooper (Tim) of Brentwood, TN, and Cameron Parks of Brentwood, TN, great-grandchildren Nathan and Natalie Hooper and Brennan Parks. Born in New Orleans to Abraham and Alice Hester October 14, 1929, she was the youngest of 11 children (2 boys and 9 girls). She attended T.J. Sims Elementary in New Orleans, Collegedale Academy, TN and Union College in Lincoln NE, where she married Warren Gepford on May 30, 1949. In addition to raising two girls, she found time to work outside the home in the family furniture manufacturing business; as an administrative assistant for Southern Adventist University’s Madison Campus School of Nursing and lastly, 28 years as a dental office receptionist for Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Donald Bethea. In her “spare” time, she assisted Warren in boat building over a period of 15 years, a project they enjoyed using for over 10 years. Frankie had many varied interests. She was an accomplished seamstress and loved to crochet and knit. She loved to play all sorts of sports and games. One of her passions in life was travel which led her to visit Italy, Spain, Morocco, Greece, Turkey, Tahiti, Russia, Scandinavia and the Caribbean, to name a few. She served in many capacities in her church life. Everyone who encountered Frankie always commented on her engaging personality, bright smile, sunny disposition, and caring for others.