Frances Blaylock Knowles

Frances Blalock Knowles, age 88, died Saturday afternoon, September 13, 2008, at Spring Arbor of Durham. She was born in Durham to the late Mitchell and Virginia Jones Blalock on June 6, 1920. Mrs. Knowles was a 1938 graduate of Durham High School and a long-time member of Yates Baptist Church. Frances was loved by her family, members of her Church, and her community. Like many rural North Carolinians of her generation, Frances was a hard worker. She tended a garden, cut and hauled wood, held a full-time job, and raised children alone wheneer husband was traveling on business. Frances also cared for foster children, and taught in the Sunday School nursery for more than 50 years. She was supportive and comforting, strong and wise. She valued good friends and her Sunday table was open to many of them over the years. Later, Granny loved her grandchildren and their spouses unreservedly. We will miss her every day. Mrs. Knowles is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 68 years, Charles W. Knowles of Durham, NC; her sons: Michael Knowles and wife, Marilyn, of Chapel Hill, NC; Donald Knowles and wife, Rebecca, of Pittsboro, NC; and four grandchildren: Joshua Knowles and wife, Juliet, of Palo Alto, CA; Sarah Knowles and husband, Jasoneerker, also of Palo Alto, CA; Rachel Knowles and husband, Rosecrans Baldwin, of Paris, France; and James Knowles of Ann Arbor, MI. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at Yates Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Don Gordon presiding. Burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery. Friends and family may visit Tuesday evening from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at Hall-Wynne Funeral Home. Contributions may be made to UNC Hospice, P.O. Box 1077 480 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro, NC 27312: or Yates Baptist Church, 2819 Chapel Hill Rd., Durham, NC 27707; or NC Jaycee Burneenter, UNC Hospitals, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. On-line memorials: www.hallwynne.com. Select obituaries. Arrangements for the Knowles family are under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service.