Affectionally known as "Fran" by her friends and "Chiny" by her birth family, Fran was the youngest of George J. and Sophie Ferguson's four daughters, born in 1932 on the Dutch island of Curacao in the Netherland Antilles. In 1944, she moved with her family to the United States, settling in the Philadelphia metro area, and going on to attend Drexel University. There she met Robert W. Shreeves, whom she married in 1953. Son Karl and daughter Elizabeth (Beth) were born in 1957 and 1959, respectively, and the family settled in the Atlanta, Georgia metro area in 1966.
In Atlanta, besides her career as a fulltime mother, Fran worked for National Data Corporation as an Executive Administrative Assistant from the 1970s until retirement, followed by relocating to Chattanooga, Tennessee in 2001 to be near her daughter's family. While living in the Atlanta area, she came to know our Lord and Savior Jesus and lived her faith, doing His work with Briarlake Baptist Church. In Chattanooga, Fran was an active member of Woodland Park Baptist Church, serving as treasurer of the Ladies Encourager Class. She was also very active in Chattanooga Christian Women’s Connection, serving in many capacities including treasurer. Among her other accomplishments, Fran was a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed in 2000, blessed by God’s provision to drive the disease into remission and live breast cancer-free the rest of her life.
Fran follows her parents and sisters Emmy Sunderland, Mathilde Riley and Elsje Hayes into Heaven, and precedes her son Karl (Shawn) of Rancho Santa Margarita, California, daughter Beth (Dave) Lamberson of Chattanooga, grandchildren Ian Lamberson of Chattanooga, Kristen (Jonn) Rafoss of Vermont, Adrienne (Seth) Thomason of Chattanooga and Keira Shreeves of California, seven great grandchildren, Adelynn, Hans, Jonn, Isabella, Elise, Vivienne and Eleanor on the way.
Fran loved her family and friends deeply, but even more she loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. While she is absent from the body, we who love her know that she is dancing, and running and praising in His presence today.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions and health concerns, a virtual celebration of Fran’s life will be held on Saturday, October 24 at 2:00 EST. To watch the service live, you may join us at
https://www.facebook.com/ChattanoogaValleyView/.
In accordance with Fran's final wishes, in lieu of flowers, contributions to Woodland Park Baptist Church’s Around the World Fund are deeply appreciated. https://woodlandpark.org/give.
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