Mary Frances Thomas Rankin

Mary Frances Thomas Rankin, 84 of Jackson Springs, died November 1, 2006 at her residence. Funeral Service will be 4:00 PM Sunday, November 5, 2006, at the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church. Services will be conducted by Rev. Don Burns and Rev. Robert Carpenter. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Mary Frances was born June 19, 1922 in Moore County, the daughter of the late John Alexander Thomas, Sr. and Ellen Burroughs Thomas. She was a graduate of Candor High School. Mary Frances deeply Christian faith was reflected in her many years of service to her Church community. Whether as a pianist, Sunday School teacher, Church secretary, Church historian, service on Lay Leadership, Work Areas, or Nominating Committees; or, seeing to the needs of the sick, shut-in, or those bereaved, Mary Frances loved to exemplify her faith through deeds. Mary Frances shared with "Doc" a love of farming and of the land, and that, along with her 4-H and Extension work, sustained her through the many years after his death. Those who knew Mary Frances always found a woman with the well-springs of strength necessary to meet life's challenges, yet tender enough to offer consolation, wisdom, good humor, and even a soft shoulder to cry upon. These and other traits of love established so many friendships which Mary Frances sealed over and over again with her famous pecan chocolate chip cookies. Mary Frances is survived by her daughter, Rosellen Rankin Zamora and her husband Jerry of Vass, 2 brothers, Roger Thomas of Sanford and John A. Thomas, Jr. of Hoffman and one sister, Evelyn Christmas of Arlington, VA. The famiy will receive friends from 4 to 7 PM Saturday, November 4, 2006 at Briggs-Candor Funeral Home in Candor and other times at the residence on Rankin Farm Rd. Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to the Pleasant Hill UMC, c/o Donald Thomas, 1212 Mill Rd., Jackson Springs NC 27281 or to a Humane Society of the donor's choice.