Frances Ferguson Pulliam

Frances Ferguson Pulliam, 95, of Greensboro, NC, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 1, 2024. Born August 25, 1929, in Winston-Salem, NC, she was the youngest daughter of the late Samuel Jordan and Jeanie Payne Ferguson.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Richard “Pete” William Pulliam and her sister, Jean Ferguson Porterfield. She is survived by her children, Laura Pulliam Gregory (Robert Bowers) and Richard William Pulliam, Jr (Ania), and her four beloved grandchildren, Davis Gregory, Peter Gregory, Eva Pulliam and Matthew “Maciek” Pulliam who will cherish their fond memories of “Fancy” or “Cece” as she was affectionately called.

Frances grew up in Martinsville, VA and after graduating high school, she attended Elon University. Following college, she moved back to Martinsville where she met and married her husband Pete in 1959. They moved to Richmond, VA where she worked as a doctor’s assistant before moving to Greensboro in 1961.

While raising her children in Greensboro, Frances pursued her interests in art and education. She started the Art Program at Irving Park Elementary School while taking painting and sculpting classes at UNC-Greensboro. She continued mastering her painting skills well into her 80’s. She also loved poetry and creative writing. In 2011 at the age of 82, she wrote, illustrated and published a children’s book which she dearly loved sharing with young children and reading at schools. Faith education was also an important part of Frances’s life. She and Pete led the teenage bible study at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, and she created an adult bible study group alongside her dear friends from Louisville, KY.

In 1990, Frances joined her husband Pete at his new business, O. Henry House, Ltd., a custom furniture manufacturing company, where she led sales, marketing and design for 20 years. She used her artistic talents to design new pieces and was instrumental in expanding the business to designers and showrooms around the country.

Frances loved life and all it had to offer. She taught her family the value of the arts, spirituality, nature, and lifelong learning and growth. Her desire to continue to learn, grow and experience new things continued into her 80’s when she took additional classes at UNC-Greensboro including Quantum Mechanics, US Constitution and Religion. She also had a love of music and particularly jazz from an early age. She met Duke Ellington in her 20’s and had such a connection that he sent her Christmas cards with handwritten music for many years. Weekly jazz nights at the O. Henry Hotel with Pete were always a favorite and gave her great joy.

Frances’ youthful energy, creative artistry, endless curiosity, love of life and experiences will be fondly remembered by everyone who knew her. She was an unforgettably independent spirit who never met a stranger. She was a fantastic bridge player, loved playing golf especially at Hound Ears, and in her younger days enjoyed tennis and skiing. She was passionate about her family and her ancestry and was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the wonderful caregivers from Home Instead, Verra Springs at Abbotswood and the angels from Beacon Place. We will always be deeply grateful for the way Frances was treated like family, especially by Betty Harrington.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, December 13th at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greensboro. The family will receive friends after the service in the Hawkins Brown room at the O. Henry Hotel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to AuthoraCare Collective Greensboro, 2500 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405, authoracare.org or the Arts Council of Greater, 200 North Davie Street, Suite 201, Greensboro, NC 27401, theacgg.org

Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel is assisting the Pulliam family with arrangements. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com for the Pulliam family.