Frances Louiese Norwood Holmes

Frances Louiese Norwood Holmes was the third child born to the union of Roger Allen Norwood Sr. and Anna Louiese Jackson Norwood on March 30th, 1938.  She grew up on what was called “Freeman Hill” on the north end of 5th street in Kansas City, Kansas.  She attended Dunbar North and Dunbar South Elementary Schools, Northeast Junior High School and Sumner High School where she was a graduate of the class of 1956. While at Sumner, she met the love of her life, Charles E. Thomas Holmes Sr.  They dated all through high school and married on December 22nd, 1957.  Two children were born to this union.  Charles E. Holmes Jr. and Carol Frances Holmes. In her early years, Frances was a stay-at-home mother and worked part-time with the head start early preschool.  She later became involved with the PTA at Hawthorne Elementary School where she sold trading stamps. She was very active with the Sumner Class of 1956 where she worked on many committees clear up to their 50-class reunion. She and Charles loved to travel and take cruises. Later in the years, she and her husband were members of the Kan-Mo-Line Dippers fishing club where they were members for over 30 years. Besides fishing, Frances loved to work out in the yard cutting grass and pulling weeds and planting her flowers.  She would always ask, where do you need me at? They were married for 60 years until her husband’s death in 2018.

Frances, also known as “Aunt Frances, Frankie, G-Momma, and Nana” loved to cook and was always trying out new recipes.  Thanksgiving dinner was always at her home. She would always put-up certain foods to make sure that everyone had a chance to eat.  Frances was a 43-year member of Centennial United Methodist Church where she was a member of Usher Board #2 and the Cora L. Moore Sunday School Class.  She was also on the kitchen committee where she served members during programs and other organizations. She was a member of the Handbell Choir where she played the handbells during the Christmas Season. Frances loved her animals over the years and always added gravy to their dog food.  She loved her five grandchildren and would do anything for them. They would have sleepovers with all the grandchildren and take them on trips.  They even took all five of them on a cruise and they had a blast!  She was very proud of her grandchildren.

Frances had a loving and caring kind heart and would take care of anybody who needed help.  She had that kind of loving spirit. She took care of many of her relatives until they were called home.  It didn’t matter if it was cleaning, cooking or just talking to them, she was just that kind of caring person. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Barbara Norwood Collins-Smith and Nathalia A. Jackson and one brother, Roger A. Norwood Jr. Her five grand dogs, Bullet, Merriam, Sonny, Cher, and Shasta Poo. 

Frances was called home by the Lord on July 20th,2023 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law.  She leaves in her memory her son, Charles E. Holmes Jr. (Gina) of Olathe, KS, her daughter, Carol Frances Holmes- Boswell (Steve) of Piper, KS.  Three sisters, Jean E. Henderson (Lloyd) of Shawnee KS, Charlotte N. Fennell (Larry Sr.) of Lenexa KS, and Crecia E. Andrews (Don) of Cedar Hills, TX, She also leaves one brother, Calvin D. Norwood Sr. (Asuncion) of Kansas City, MO. Two brothers-in-law, Irving “Pete” Jackio of Idaho, and Chuck Jackio of California. One sister-in-law, Betty Jo Wayne-Judie of Kansas City, KS. She also leaves two granddaughters, Brittany L. Boswell, and Marla R. Boswell-Garrett and three grandsons. Ryan M. Holmes (Molly), Brandon T. Holmes (A.J.) and Justin K. Holmes (Katie) and two great-granddaughters and one great-grandson. Four very special friends for life, Edith A. Green, Erma J. Riding, Georgianna Williams, and Carolyn C. Edwards and her Goddaughter that she adored Stephanie M. Henningsen of St. Petersburg, Florida.  Her grand-dogs, Lulu, Lena and Pepsi Cola. She also leaves a host of many nieces, great nieces and great-great nieces, nephews, great-nephews, and great-great nephews and cousins and a host of beautiful friends.  She will be greatly missed.

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