Frances Marie Collins Chatman, age 85, passed away at her residence in Pulaski, Tennessee on Saturday, October 21, 2017.
Frances was born on May 3, 1932 in Limestone County, Alabama to Henderson and Nellie Street Collins. She was a dedicated homemaker and loving wife and mother. She was the widow of M. C. “Bud” Chatman, who passed away on November 3, 2001. She was a member of Campbellsville Church of Christ. Frances loved helping people as evidenced by her volunteering at Giles County Outreach Center for the last four years of her life.
Her family remembers that Frances was a quiet, gentle loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister. She had the gentleness of a lamb, but the strength of a lion. She had strong beliefs of God and family, always caring for all. She suffered cancer and treatments for the cancer in 2002, overcoming and remaining cancer-free for 15 years. At the age of 80 she and Pam began helping out at the Giles County Outreach Center with her sister-in-law, Posh, who passed away in 2015. With no volunteers, but with a great need there, they went to “work” every day, 5 days each week. She quickly became “mom” to all those coming into the store. In May 2016, the cancer returned and she decided at age 84, that she could not and would not suffer through treatments again. She wanted to live and enjoy every day she had and truly LIVE. And, LIVE she did. She went to “work” every day, enjoyed visits with family and friends, rode around and enjoyed chicken nuggets, burgers and milk shakes, and celebrating the births of 2 great-great-grandchildren, Kenney and Buttercup.
Frances is survived by her daughters: Pamela Wells, Linda King, Janice Scroggins, all of Pulaski and Mary Laverne (Brian) Boles of Columbia; son: Bill (Vickie) Kelley of Columbia; 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren; brother: Ray (Marie) Collins of Shelbyville; sister: Kathy (Cordell) Collins Hobby of Lewisburg; and brother-in-law: Joe Chatman.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Henderson and Nellie Street Collins; husband: M. C. “Bud” Chatman; brothers: Alvin, Barney Gene and H. T. “Tee” Collins and son-in-law: Don King.
Funeral services for Frances will be held on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Williams Funeral Home in Columbia with Theodore Durham and her grandson: Scott Sparks officiating. Burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery in Culleoka, Tennessee. The family will visit with friends from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2017 also at the funeral home.
Terry Sparks, Thomas Runions, Leonard Chatman, Josh Williams, Donald Williams, Hank Chatman and Phillip Hobby will serve as pallbearers.
Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements and online condolences may be made at www.williamsfh.com.
