Frances White Gunnels

Lena Frances White Gunnels age 97, of Macon passed away with family by her side on Monday, March 8, 2024. She was born Feb. 7, 1927, in Leslie, GA to her late parents Charles Henry White and Lena Peyton White. Her family lived in Kathleen, GA and included two sisters Hilda White Horton (deceased) and Barbara White Holloway.

She met her late husband, Louis Thomas (Tom) Gunnels shortly after World War II and was married in 1948. The couple resided in Macon where he was employed at Warner Robins AFB. They started their family with the birth of Louis Thomas Gunnels Jr., followed by Charles Payton Gunnels, and Frances Kay Gunnels. She later was employed as administrative staff at Stratford Academy where she proudly saw two of her grandsons graduate. Her reputation as kind and caring was well known to staff, students, and parents alike. She shared 52 years of marriage with Tom in which his many outdoor adventures, hobbies and countless hunting dogs were met with a calm demeanor and endless patience. They were charter members of the Bloomfield Methodist Church. Many weekends were spent at Lake Sinclair as members of the Macon Motor Boat Club. She was a lifetime gardener with a love for beautiful flowers and plants. She spent many hours working her flowerbeds despite her well known fear of snakes.

After retirement she enjoyed traveling abroad and was most excited about her memorable trip to England to visit the White family relatives and the original homestead of her ancestors. Her time doing volunteer work for the Macon Little Theatre was very rewarding and pleasing to her. Her church community, especially her close friends of the Ruth Circle at Forest Hills Methodist Church was very fulfilling to her.

Frances was a devoted and loving mother and her interest in the historical importance of family was evidenced by her attendance at decades of family reunions.

She is survived by her children Tom Gunnels, Jr. (Necia), Charles (Mary Charles), and Kay Stone (Coleman); grandchildren Andrew Gunnels (Bridgette), Charlie Gunnels (Katie), Jeff Gunnels, Mary Frances Gardner (Brian), Leigh Gunnels, Dustin McCook, Tiffany Burgess (Jason); great grandchildren Peyton Gunnels, Amelia Gunnels, John Parks Gunnels, Caroline Gunnels, Preston Gunnels, Eleanor Frances Gardner, Isla Gardner, and Emma Ray Burgess.

There will be a graveside service at 11:00 am on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at Macon Memorial Park Cemetery, 3969 Mercer University Dr. Macon, GA 31204, Dr. Laudis H. "Rick" Lanford presiding. Flowers are welcomed or donations may be made to the Methodist Children’s Home 304 Pierce Ave. Macon, Ga. 31204.

Snow's Funerals & Cremations at Macon Memorial Park has charge of arrangements.