Frankie Fling Newman

Frankie Fling Newman loved life and lived it to the fullest. She lost her mother at a young age and spent many years growing up in LaGrange and West Point. At the age of 14, she met Gardner Newman, the love of her life and after three years of college, they married and had 64 years of a happy married life until he died in 2007.

Raising six children kept Frankie busy with their activities: she was a den mother to 3 boy scouts, a scout leader for 3 girl scouts, music lessons, dancing lessons, and little league ball games.

Frankie was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where she served as a deacon and an elder; she was a charter member of the KYB Sunday School Class and its first president. She was a circle leader for many years, President of the Women of the Church, and President of the Council of Church Women. She served on the Board of Camp Viola as its treasurer for 40 years. She delivered Meals on Wheels every Thursday for many years. She worked as a pink lady at the hospital every Tuesday for many years. She enjoyed playing golf and was President of the Ladies Golf Association at the Highland Country Club. She was a member of a bridge club that played every week. She loved reading and was a member of Tabard Book Club for over 50 years. She loved working cross word puzzles and traveling with her husband. She enjoyed her 26 years as First Lady of LaGrange while her husband was mayor.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Gardner Newman; mother, Ruth Brantley Fling; father, Frank Ridley Fling; step-mother, Kathleen Hope Fling; grandson, Henry S. Newman; son-in-law, Dusty Jones; and great grandson, William A. Jones.

Survivors include her six children, Jim (Lissa) Newman, Nancy (Dan) Durand, Pete (Dawn) Newman, Ivy Jones, Ruth (Phil) Perdue, and Chunk (Leigh) Newman; 16 grandchildren, Gardner (LeeAnn) Newman II, Chris (Kim) Newman, Gus Newman, Luke Newman; Darby (Alex) Pippin, Kelly (Chris) Cain; SSGT Gregory (Cindy) Newman U.S. Marine Corps, Anna (Benjamin) Moore, Andy (Cynthia) Jones, Alan (Marilyn) Jones, Paige (Charley) Lundy, Jamie Haines, Ivy (Mark) Burton, John Newman, Jud Newman, and Frances Newman; 24 great grandchildren. Known as “Bam”, she loved her large family and she knows she will be missed by them all.

She is also survived by her two half-sisters, Beverly McDaniel of Columbus, GA and Trish Byars of Atlanta, GA.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Monday, March 23, 2015 at First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange with Dr. Douglas DeCelle officiating. The gathering of family and friends will be on Sunday from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Camp Viola, P.O. Box 716, LaGrange, GA 30241 or First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange Memorial Fund, 120 Broad Street, LaGrange, GA 30240.

Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.

Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-8636