Frances Jane Wood Pickard

Frances Jane Wood Pickard, beloved wife, mother, and nana, passed away at the age of 71 at Community Hospice in Jacksonville, FL on April 22, 2018 after a painful battle with ovarian cancer. Frances was born February 25, 1947 in Anderson County, SC to Arthur Dodson Wood Sr and Virginia Eloise Finley Wood, who both precede her in death. She has two brothers Willie Turner Wood (deceased) married to Zada Wood of Anderson, SC, and Arthur Dodson Wood Jr married to Linda of Belton, SC. Frances comes from a large and devoted extended family that reaches throughout the Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson areas.

Frances grew up in Belton where her earliest memories were of living on Kelly St and swimming in the mill pond with friends. A former Miss Golden Warrior runner up, she graduated from Belton High School in 1965 and went on to study at Anderson College. While at Anderson College, Frances met her sweetheart, James Thomas Pickard. They were later married in a Christmas Day ceremony at Second Baptist Church of Belton on December 25, 1966. She finished her history and media specialist degrees at Appalachian State University where she went on to complete her Master’s Degree as well. Frances became a school librarian while in North Carolina and traveled between three schools in the rural West Jefferson area. She moved to Jacksonville, FL in 1970 with her husband Jim so that they could both pursue professional opportunities. She served as a Media Specialist with the Duval County School System for 45 years, working in several schools including Susie Tolbert Elementary, Atlantic Beach Elementary, Beauclerc Elementary, Dupont Middle School, and Greenland Pines Elementary. After a brief retirement, Frances returned to her love of education by joining the staff at Christ Church Academy as their librarian for 3 years. Frances was a leader in the Media Specialist Community as a mentor and trainer within Duval County. She was well known and respected among her peers.

Frances was an active member of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF International), and a member of Englewood Christian Church. She is survived by her devoted husband of 51 years Jim (James) Thomas Pickard, and her three children Jan Wilson (Todd), Joyce Claassen (Mark,) and Jay Pickard (Julie) along with 9 grandchildren and one on the way.

A visitation for Frances will be held Wednesday, April 25, 2018 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Hardage - Giddens Greenlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery, 4300 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207. A funeral service will occur Thursday, April 26, 2018 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Englewood Christian Church, 4316 Barnes Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32207. A committal service will occur Thursday, April 26, 2018 from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32218.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Frances' memory may be made to Englewood Christian Church Children’s & Youth Ministry, 4316 Barnes Rd S, Jacksonville, Florida 32207 US or International Storytelling Center, at tore.storytellingcenter.net/ways-of-giving-7/ or to a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GreenlawnJacksonville.com for the Pickard family.