The Lord our God brought Frances “Fannye” Anne Ramsey home on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo at the age of 88. She was born March 3, 1935 in Columbia, Tennessee to the late William and Frances Haywood. She graduated from Forest Hill High School in Jackson, Mississippi in 1954, where she played trumpet in the marching band. She married her late husband and high school sweetheart William “Bill” Barton Ramsey, Sr. on June 4, 1955. In God’s own sense of humor, she passed away in the exact same hospice room in which her husband also passed into the Lord’s arms, 17 years ago.
She worked various jobs in Jackson before relocating to Tupelo with her husband in 1963, at which point she became his office assistant for Ramsey Photography, where she continued to work for 49 years. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church for 60 years.
Frances “Fannye” left an imprint on many people’s hearts. She exuded all of the Fruits of the Spirit for everyone she knew. Her greatest value in life was the importance of family, and she has passed that love and mentality down for generations. She was quick-witted, humble, caring, kind, and will be sorely missed.
Frances was preceded in death by her late husband of 51 years, William Barton Ramsey, Sr., and her four siblings: William Haywood of Columbia, Tennessee; Robert “Bobby” Haywood of Atlanta, Georgia; Helen Hahn of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and Charles “Bo” Haywood of Stone Mountain, Georgia.
She is survived by her four sons, William “Bart” Ramsey, Jr. (Kathy) of Tupelo; Scott Ramsey (Gay) of Tupelo; Mark Ramsey of Dallas, Texas; and John Ramsey of Brandon.
She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, William “Barton” Ramsey, III (Bethany), Annelisa Ramsey (Heston Mercer), Jessica Burke (Luke), Tyler Ramsey, Stone Ramsey (Kenadee), Taite Ramsey (Jake Stewart), Cody Shumaker, Caleb Shumaker, “Little” John Ramsey, and Matt Betts (Dawn); 12 great-grandchildren, Naomi, Noah, Meriam, Ramsey, Loftin, Canyon, Lily, Violet, Kaylyn, Savannah, Addison, and Reagan; and brother-in-law, Fred Hahn; sisters-in-law, Becky Triplett, Jean Ramsey, and Diane Haywood; and also very special friends, Mike and Terri Yielding.
Visitation will be 11 A.M. until service time Saturday, July 15, 2023, at Pegues Funeral Directors in Tupelo.
A service will follow at 1 P.M. Saturday, July 15, 2023 at the Jefferson Street Chapel of Pegues with Rev. Mark Ramsey, Rev. Barton Ramsey, and Rev Matt Betts officiating. A graveside service will follow in Tupelo Memorial Park, where she will be laid to rest beside her beloved late husband.
Pallbearers will be Luke Burke, Stone Ramsey, Cody Shumaker, Caleb Shumaker, Little John Ramsey, Noah Ramsey, Canyon Mercer, and Jake Stewart.
A special thanks to all of her caregivers at Traceway Griffis House, and a special thanks to the angel who looked after her at the end Ms. Johnnie Lewis.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803.
