Obituary of Frances Harkins

Frances Louise Hellams Harkins, 98, widow of Wilbern Lee “Pa” Harkins Sr. (after 69 years of marriage), went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 20, 2024.

Mrs. Harkins was born in Hickory Tavern, SC to the late Walter Brownlee Hellams and Beatrice Manly Hellams.  Frances was proud to have graduated from Hickory Tavern High School (during the time when high school only went thru the 11^th grade). She worked many years at Her Majesty and later retired from Kemet Electronics.  Frances was a seamstress at heart and ran a very successful commercial sewing operation.  She was a member of Mauldin First Baptist Church and the Vital Faith Sunday School Class.  She enjoyed cooking and canning.  Frances and Wilbern spent untold hours sharing and delivering their excess vegetables with family and friends.  They loved their travels together throughout the country in their motorhome.

Surviving are a son, Lee Harkins Jr. and wife Wanda; a daughter, Sheryl Stewart and husband James “Duck”; five grandsons and their wives, Michael and Cindy Stewart, Jay and Andrea Stewart, Dustin and Kristi Harkins, Ian and Megan Harkins, and Colin and Christina Harkins; and five great-grandchildren, Jaden Stewart, Christian Stewart, Scarlett Harkins, Alex Harkins and Wyatt Harkins. She was predeceased by a sister, Evelyn Hawkins.

A Celebration of Frances’ Life will be 3 o’clock Saturday in the mausoleum chapel of Graceland East Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to Meals-on-Wheels of Greenville, 15 Oregon Street, Greenville, SC 29605.