Frances Marian Winder Hunter

On Thursday, the 7th of January 2021, our dear wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother succumbed to the impact of the Covid-19 virus which she had battled for the past two and a half months. We are so thankful for her long and substantive life but have been broken hearted at the manner in which it was taken from her. We are thankful that she has gone home to her heavenly Father and is at peace now.

Frances was born on the 26th of January 1928, in Gainesville, Texas, to Mabel Savage Winder and Ray Winder. She spent her childhood and adolescence in Gainesville before going to George Peabody College (now part of Vanderbilt University) in Nashville, Tennessee where she obtained a BS in Industrial Arts. She worked as a draftswoman for an architect for a couple of years before marrying John Calvin Hunter from Columbia, Tennessee in 1950 and moving to Houston, Texas. Frances taught school, Sunday School and was a Brownie leader for several years sharing her loving and positive attitude with the students she taught. She became involved in American Field Service (AFS) where she coordinated the accommodation of international exchange students with local families. Frances was the Volunteer Cradle Roll Director at Second Baptist Church, where she was a dedicated member for over 70 years, facilitating visits to new mothers in the church and organizing personalized New Testaments to be presented to the new babies. She also taught English as a second language through the church program, ‘Friends’, to women who had arrived in Houston from all over the world. The language skills and support they received was invaluable to so many of these women. For almost 25 years, she was a volunteer at the Hospitality Apartments serving as the Volunteer Coordinator as well as a Trustee and Advisor. The Hospitality Apartments provide free temporary accommodation and a supportive environment to long term, out of town patients of the Medical Center in Houston. This service and ministry has been such a blessing for so many patients and their families. Frances lived a life filled with love and service.

Beloved wife of 70 years to John, who has also battled the effects of Covid and is currently residing in a skilled nursing residence in Houston. Devoted mother and mother-in-law to John Hunter and Susan Miertschin who reside in Houston and Pamela and Roger Davis who reside in Sydney Australia. Adored ‘Mimi’ to grandchildren Jill Hunter, Julie Hunter, Robert Hunter, Joey Hunter, Courtney Davis Aho, Brendan Hunter Davis, and Alexandra Davis Pryke. Cherished great-grandmother to Isabel and Rose Asher and Avery, Cody and Beckett Aho. Dearly loved sister of Mary Katherine Nelson Clifford, aunt of Robert Nelson and Debbi Winder, and much loved ‘adopted’ mom of Margi Brown Ash and Miguel Suarez. She is pre-deceased by her brother John Ray Winder and her parents Ray and Mabel Winder.

A memorial service and celebration of Frances’ life is to be conducted at three o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 14th of January, in the Sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston. The service can also be viewed on www.second.org/liveevents or by simply selecting the "Join Livestream" icon in the service information below.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Frances’ name be directed to Hospitality Apartments, 7300 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX, 77030 (HospitalityApartments.org); or to Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Dr., Houston, TX, 77057 (Second.org) Second Loves Kids Ministry. Direct links to these charities are accessible below also.

Frances will be sadly missed by her loving family and friends and remembered for her kindness, dedication and generosity by all who knew her.

“God has you in His keeping,

We have you in our hearts.”