Frances “Frankie” Mae Newsom Miller

Frances was born July 21, 1921 in Winston-Salem, NC to the late Robert Wesley Newsom and Hattie Carter Newsom. She was preceded in death by her husband, L.L. “Bing” Miller; and granddaughter, Ashley Renee Miller.

Frances is survived by her son, David Miller and his wife, Sue; daughters, Nancy Miller Dunn; and Deborah Miller Jaques and her husband, Keith, all of Raleigh; 4 grandchildren, Christopher Dunn; Miranda Miller Adams and her husband, Jeff; Matthew Dunn; and Cody Jaques; 2 great grandchildren, Luca and Hattie Adams; and honorary daughter, Denise Hawley.

Frankie graduated from Woman’s College, now UNC-G, in 1942 and immediately went to work for the News & Observer as a police reporter. She soon began to cover the N.C. Legislature and political news. And yes, she wore those tiny, 4” high-heeled shoes as she trotted between the legislature and the newsroom. In 1945 she worked for Carolina Power & Light as industrial editor, advancing to Editor of the Public Utilities Advertising Association Bulletin from 1947-1948. She continued to lobby at the General Assembly as executive director for the state Council for Social Legislation, 1953-1956.

When the N.C. Nurses Association needed a part-time writer, Frankie jumped at the opportunity. As assistant executive director from 1956-1972, she edited and wrote the Tar Heel Nurse and became NCNA’s Executive Director in 1972 until her retirement in 1986. As Executive Director, Frankie advanced the nursing practice in North Carolina to its true statute as equal partners in patient care.

Frankie also served as member, Board of Trustees, University of North Carolina 1946-1953; Board of Trustees, UNC-G Alumni Association, 1951-1954; author of “Profile of North Carolina’s Children and Youth, 1960; delegate to 1960 White House Conference on Children and Youth; member Board of Directors, Wake County Rehabilitation and Cerebral Palsy Center; member and secretary, Campus Christian Life Committee, Presbyterian Churches of Raleigh; Zonta Club of Raleigh, charter member and secretary, 1977-1978, service chairman 1980-1981; member, statewide advisor committee, Area Health Education Centers.

Frankie’s honors include “Honorary Nurse” from ECU School of Nursing, National Honor Society of Nursing’s Sigma Theta Tau Media Award for Excellence in Nursing Journalism, American Nurses’ Association Board of Directors Outstanding Leadership and Dedicated Service Award, N.C. LPN Association Appreciation Award and NCNA Board of Director Award for Outstanding Service.

Frankie was a guiding light in the life of her family, friends and nurses across the state. She was one of the longest and certainly one of the most enthusiastic NCSU fans, attending sports events until age 89.

A funeral service will be held 2:00 pm Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St. Mary's Street, Raleigh, NC 27605. Interment will follow the service at Raleigh Memorial Park. The family will receive friends 6:00-8:00 pm Monday, November 26th at the funeral home.

Memorial gifts can be made to "UNCG" and directed to the "Frances Newsom Miller Scholarship in Nursing". Mailing address: UNCG School of Nursing, PO Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402.

Condolences may be sent to www.BrownWynne.com