Frances M. Daughtry, a loving great-great grandmother began her life in 1925 on Ege Avenue in Jersey City, NJ. Her mother, Edna (Fritzson) was a harpist and music teacher; her father, Charles Jackson, Sr. owned and operated a retail establishment. When Frances was just 5 years old, her mother became ill and passed away along with Frances’s infant sister.
Frances began her life without a mother, but her father, “Pop” was a loving, caring and attentive father. Together with Frances’s surviving siblings, Charles Sr., (deceased), and Edna (Cooper, deceased) their family endured life during the Great Depression. Frances shared stories of having to care for her aged maternal grandmother while attending school high school. Then, around 1941, she left school to work in a munitions factory to help support her father and siblings during WWII. Despite her interrupted education, Frances remained interested in science and politics.
In 1944, Frances married, Robert Daughtry, Sr. (deceased). Together they raised 7 children – Robert “Kwame”, Jr. (deceased), Gregory (Belinda), Cynthia James (Larry, deceased), Deborah (David), Ronald (deceased), Donald and Antoinette. Despite her many hardships, and the many unpredictable social and economic difficulties African American families had to endure to survive, Frances remained faithful to her family and community. Frances was a Deaconess, a church elder, a member of the Eastern Starr and Shriners of Northern NJ. She kept house beautifully, starched and ironed our clothes, worked full time, assisted other families in need and gifted us with memorable Christmas and Easter festivities! She cooked the most amazing Thanksgiving feasts year after year that we all try to emulate!
In addition to Frances’s early work life, in the 1960s she became a social worker for “Can-Do” an anti-poverty program that helped families living in government housing navigate crisis. In the 1970s-early 80s, she was a Deaconess at Salem Baptist Church of Jersey City and worked in the church’s Day Care Center. Frances’s 41-year marriage ended with the tragic early death of her husband, Robert, Sr. of heart failure. Frances’s long life of 96 years brought with it the sadness of having to bury two of her adult sons, Robert, Jr., (aneurysm) and Ronald (stroke). Despite it all, her faith and loving spirit gave her the strength and courage to continue to joyfully welcome her growing family.
During her retirement years, Frances withdrew her membership from the many organizations she participated to pursue a deeper relationship with her Christian faith. She joined Venice Park Methodist Church in Atlantic City and assisted in the treasurer’s office.
Frances’s 30 plus years in retirement was blessed. She enjoyed participating in the lives of her growing family, her grandchildren: Tamaiya (Lloyd deceased), Larry Bonn (Juliette), Marcus, Andrew (Kristen), Jonathan, Hugh, Faith, Emmanuel, Ronald Terrell, Daniel, Davina, and Na’Tashia. Frances was also the proud great grandmother to Danielle (Michael), Joy, Trinity, Isaiah, Isaac, Zoe, Simone, Darius, Nathaniel, and Theia. Mercifully, Frances lived to meet and love her 2 great-great grandchildren, Ezra and Zariah. Frances is remembered by her church friends, many nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law Miriam Jones, Juanita “Boots” (Jacob, Sr. deceased), and her remaining brother-in-law,
Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry (Rev. Dr. Karen S.).