Frances Duchess McLaurin Bolton, 95, entered her eternal home peacefully on August 12, 2020, in Selmer, Tennessee. Known by most as “Ms. Fran”, she was born on October 2, 1924, in Mize, Smith County, Mississippi, the eldest of six children of Hugh Lavon and Jewel Blanche Myers McLaurin.
Being the eldest of six, she learned how to work hard at a very early age, picking cotton and caring for her younger siblings. Growing up during the Great Depression helped mold her into the determined, outspoken, and passionate person she was.
As a teen, she attended Raleigh High School and played basketball. Fiercely competitive and always giving her best, she walked three miles to a game one evening and scored 33 points.
After graduation, one of her first jobs was as a dental assistant in Jackson, Mississippi. Later she worked as an administrative assistant and switchboard operator at Cabel Electric, where she became known as Fran, “The Voice”, Bolton. As a young professional in Jackson, she was introduced to her true love and married Wayne Bolton on February 24, 1955.
Mrs. Bolton was an original Southern Belle, and aside from family and friends, there was not much she loved more than the great State of Mississippi. Always welcoming a new challenge and adventure, though, the Boltons made their home in Selmer, Tennessee in 1964. Mrs. Bolton worked by Mr. Bolton’s side as a legal assistant and associate salesperson in Bolton Real Estate for many years.
As a proud citizen of Selmer, Mrs. Bolton was involved in numerous community and church activities, including Twin Pines Garden Club, Girl Scouts of America, McNairy County Historical Society, Gideons International Auxiliary, McNairy Hospital Auxiliary, book club, McNairy County Republican Women, and the Presbytery Women’s Group. Mrs. Bolton was a natural leader and trailblazer, encouraging her daughter and granddaughters to actively participate in important causes.
She was most passionate about sharing her love for the Lord. She taught Sunday School at First Presbyterian Church in Selmer for 31 years and served as an elder. Mrs. Bolton continued as a Sunday School substitute teacher at Selmer First Baptist Church into her 90’s.
Mrs. Bolton’s other interests included genealogy, travel, gardening, dogs, and birds. She could name every plant, tree, and bird and noticed and appreciated each piece of God’s creation, no matter how big or small. A collector of rocks and seashells from all over the country, she loved everything about nature and the outdoors. Her grandchildren fondly remember her often taking them to the edge of the woods at her house to play in the rocks and mud, calling it “the volcano” and pretending to be at an eruption site. Mrs. Bolton had a large imagination and considered playing and doing things for fun as an essential part of life. She loved getting dressed up and attending parties and hosting domino game nights in her home. At any given point during her life, Mrs. Bolton always had a pet dog (usually several). She wrote a book of short stories about her various dogs throughout the years and was always eager to help any stray animal.
She is survived by her daughter, Melissa Page (Joe) of Selmer, Tennessee; son Bill Bolton (Carla) of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; granddaughters Mary Lauren Teague (Daniel; and great-granddaughter Mary Frances) of Brentwood, Tennessee, Blair Vincent (Hunter; and great-granddaughter Hadley) of Nashville, Tennessee, Rachel Goss (Chris) of Horn Lake, Mississippi, and Danielle Ochs (Austin; and great-grandsons Raef, Thatch, and Shepherd) of Wichita, Kansas; grandson Tommy Bolton (Erika; and great-grandchildren Amaya, Addison, and Haedyn) of Memphis, Tennessee; sisters Ev Hinton of Madison, Mississippi, Jean McLaurin of Jackson, Mississippi, and Pat Upchurch of Jackson, Mississippi; sisters-in-law Marie Bolton of Selmer, Tennessee and Cora McLaurin of Memphis, Tennessee; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. She also leaves behind her beloved dog, Tip, who has been cared for over the last couple years by dear friends Tom and Brenda Cauley. She is preceded in death by her husband, William Wayne Bolton; parents Hugh Lavon and Jewel Blanche Myers McLaurin; sister Chris Salvaggio; and brother O.T. McLaurin.
The family extends sincere appreciation to so many who have provided such wonderful care to Mrs. Bolton, including Melissa Kirk, RN, and Tennessee Quality Hospice; Tamela King and other special AHC McNairy nurses, nurse aides, and staff members; Dr. Jim King; and StoneRidge of Farmington.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at 11:00 AM at Mars Hill Cemetery in Adamsville, Tennessee. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the family requests that masks be worn at the graveside service and that all friends in attendance practice social distancing.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, sympathy be expressed by donations to First Baptist Church Selmer Building Fund or the McNairy County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1083, Selmer, Tennessee 38375.
