Frances Blackwell Gann, 93, of Huntsville, AL, formerly of Forestdale, AL, passed away on October 27, 2021 at Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care. On Saturday, October 30, 2021, visitation will begin at 10 AM, followed by funeral services at 11 AM, at Christway Church Huntsville, 1431 Jordan Rd, Huntsville, AL, 35811, with Dr. Mickey Jett officiating. Graveside services will be held at Elmwood Cemetery, 600 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Birmingham, AL, 35211, at 3 PM, on Saturday with her nephew, Pastor Monty Franklin of Diana United Methodist officiating. Arrangements are by Valhalla Funeral Home. Frances was born in Lipscomb, AL, to James Harvey Franklin and Jennie Staggs Franklin on January 27, 1928. She was the second child and daughter in a family that would grow to ten children. As one of the eldest daughters, she mastered cooking and other household tasks at an early age. During her 93 years, her meals would become legendary both within her family and among her church community. Most remembered for her famous coconut cakes and pecan pies, she also had a reputation for the most sought-after Christmas treats, including glazed peanuts, chex mix, shaped spritz cookies, and her personal favorite, fruitcake cookies. Frances graduated from Jones Valley High School in 1946. She worked for several companies, mainly as a secretary and bookkeeper, in a career that spanned over 50 years. While attending college in the mid-1950’s at UAB, she met her future husband, Joseph Scott Blackwell, in Algebra class. He was a math whiz, so she asked for his help, and their relationship blossomed into marriage on February 19, 1961. Afterwards, they bought a house in Forestdale, AL, and had two sons, Timothy Scott Blackwell and Steven Ray Blackwell, who were born one year apart in January 1962 and January 1963. In 1969, the family moved to Spartanburg, SC, for Joe to manage the Accounting Department at Hoechst Fibers. Living so close to the Blue Ridge mountains, they enjoyed many weekends picnicking and hiking. After the death of her beloved Joe in 1976, she bravely raised her teenage sons. In 1977, Frances moved her family back home to Forestdale to be closer to extended family and her church. Her brother Matthew helped her build a new home, where she lived for 35 years. She worked at Hillcrest Hospital before retiring in her mid-70’s. Frances was a founding member of Forestdale Church of God and was active in the life of the church through Sunday School, Women’s Bible study, and fellowship. It was there that she met and later married her husband, Garl Gann, both widowed, on June 19, 1999. The couple enjoyed over 14 years together, traveling to visit grandchildren and siblings, the Smoky Mountains, and Branson, Missouri. One of their favorite trips was an Alaskan cruise with Frances’ son, Steven, and his family. Family bonds were of utmost importance to Frances, which made reunions her most cherished times. Her talent for cooking and hospitality led to many lovingly prepared meals and good conversation, keeping her children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, and nephews close to her and one another. Her family will always remember how her faith led her to be hopeful and optimistic throughout her life, despite any hardships she faced. She was a role model and inspiration to many friends and family members. Frances is preceded in death by her parents James Harvey Franklin and Jennie Staggs Franklin, her husbands, Joseph Scott Blackwell and Garl Gann, her sisters, Elizabeth Zeigler, Marietta King, and Omega Franklin, her brothers, James Franklin, Garmon Franklin, and William Franklin, her nephews John Blackwell and Charles Blackwell, and her nieces, Pam Zeigler, Darlene Davis, and Teresa Miley. Frances is survived by her children, Timothy Blackwell (Lesa) and Steven Blackwell (Sabrina), her grandchildren, Joseph Blackwell (Chardonnay), Lauren Black (Matt), Scott Blackwell, Ross Blackwell, and Bennett Blackwell, her great-grandchild, Victoria Blackwell, her sister, Dorothy Farmer, her brothers, Matthew Franklin (Glynda) and Nathan Franklin (Sherry), her nieces, Delores Moore, Jan Zeigler, Jenny Roberts, Diantha Miller, Karen Franklin, Kim Hellums, Lori Scogin, and Lea Anne Carter, Shasta Allan, Mary Lou Mulder, Lisa Blackwell, and Misty Brown, her nephews, Ralph King, Richard King, Darrell Davis, Don Franklin, Mark Franklin, Mike Franklin, Adam Franklin, Monty Franklin, and Barry Franklin, her childhood friend, Virginia Gordon, her dear church friend, Lawanda Taylor Perez, and her Brookdale friend, Lurleen Steiner. Pallbearers will be her grandsons as well as her nephews, Adam Franklin and Barry Franklin. In recognition of Frances’ life-long commitment to her church, the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be given to Church of God World Missions via https://www.cwchuntsville.com/donate. Frances’ family would like to thank the staff and residents of Brookdale Jones Farm Senior Living, where she spent the past six years, especially nurses Lynette and Lauren, for their tender care. We are also grateful for her sister, Dorothy Farmer, who lovingly cared for Frances in the last months of her life. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.valhallafunerals.com for the Gann family.
