- Date Of Birth: February 3, 1922
- Date Of Death: June 2, 2015
- State: Maryland
Frances Elizabeth James Prout was born on February 3, 1922 to the late Roxie Pearl James and the late Richard Pendleton James in Edenborn, PA. After failing health, she departed this life on June 2, 2015 at the age of 93.
Frances graduated in 1940 from German Township High School in McClellandtown, PA. After high school, she became a waitress before taking the Civil Service exam to work for the US Government. In 1941, she became employed for the Department of Army, in the Pentagon. While there, Frances worked in the benefit department processing paperwork for the enlisted and retirees. Frances was promoted to supervisor and she continued to counsel the retirees on their rights in benefits.
Frances met Jesse Hamilton Prout, Sr., at the USO Club, while he was stationed in the army. They married on June 13, 1943. Of this union, they had three sons: Jesse Hamilton, Jr. “Toni”, Ricardo Quentin, and Darryl Miguel. Frances and Jesse joined Glendale Baptist Church in 1948. While a member, she was the Financial Secretary, member of the: Flower Club, Willing Workers Club, and Senior Choir. After working 30 years for the government, Frances retired. She then decided to work for UPS where she stayed for ten years before her second retirement. While working, Frances also took care of her mother, Roxie, who lived with them for many years.
Frances and Jesse moved their family from Washington, DC to Pennyton Estates in Clinton, MD, where she was a member of the Pennyton Estates Civic Association, and The Girls Club. She looked forward to monthly fellowship meetings, dinners, and games. The girls also prepared Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets for those in need.
Frances was noted for her fashion sense. Jesse lavished her with many gifts. She was proud of her full length minks and other mink stoles. She had an array of leather gloves in every color, from short, to medium, to long length. She loved to wear a combination of her precious and costume jewelry. Frances’ array of hats was legendary; most of them purchased for specific outfits.
With her parting, Frances leaves to cherish her memory, her grandson Gregg, and his wife Clarice, grandson Ricardo, Jr “Ricky”, her daughter-in-law, Bernadette, her great-grandchildren: Rikeita, Antoni, Autumn, Selena, Toni, and her great-great grandson, Landon. She also leaves to mourn her death, her foster sons, Robert and William Boyd-Kelley and her god-daughter Gail Leigh. Frances was especially fond of her daily conversations with her nieces: Shirley, Myra “Sissy” and Tanya and her dear cousin Sharon. She will be missed by her close neighbors who looked out for her safety and often supplied her with home cooked meals. Frances was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her three sons and her sister, Alyce Reed Williams. She will be interred next to them all.
