Frances Elizabeth Stubbs Puryear, age 93, of Hickory Acres Elizabeth City, NC passed away quietly on Friday, January 28, 2022 at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center following a brief unexpected illness.
Frances was born in Cheraw, SC on August 30, 1928 to the late Clara Powell Stubbs and Arthur Bernard Stubbs.
Frances attended Lees-McCrae College, as well as the University of South Carolina. After college, she worked as an Administrative Assistant for McMillian Construction.
In 1953 she married Edward Franklin Puryear, III. Following his graduation from Clemson, they lived in several locations in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. After the birth of their daughter Virginia in 1958, Frances became a homemaker. Being a lifelong Methodist, she was always active in the churches where they lived as well as an active volunteer in the community. She was an avid gardener and bird watcher and, in the last few years, enjoyed the many squirrels that frequented her feeders.
They resided in Edenton twice and after Ed retired, they moved to Elizabeth City where they resided for the last twenty years. They were members of First United Methodist Church of Elizabeth City.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, Arthur Bernard Stubbs, Jr. and Edward W. Stubbs. Her husband Ed passed in March 2020.
She is survived by a daughter, Virginia “Ginny” Puryear Gillam (husband Hardy) of Edenton; granddaughter , Kathryn Elizabeth Gillam of Edenton; and Noah Hardy Gillam of Manteo. Also, her beloved caregiver Crystal Telekey of Hertford, as well as rescue cat “Lucy”.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 4, 2022 at Twiford Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Bennie Oakes officiating. Twiford Funeral Home, 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC 27909 is serving the Puryear family. Memorial donations may be made to the SPCA of Northeastern NC, 102 Enterprise Drive, Elizabeth City, NC 27909. Online memorial condolences may be sent to the Puryear family at www.TwifordFH.com. To plant a tree in memory of Mrs. Puryear or to send flowers to the family, please visit www.TwifordFH.com/send-flowers.