Fran S. Woody, 83, Of Memphis Tennessee went home to be with her Lord, family and friends early Tuesday morning June 18, 2018. Fran was born July 20, 1934 in Judsonia, Arkansas to Myrtie Jackson Sterling and Othar Harry Sterling.
Fran was preceded in death by both parents, her Sister Gerri Rawls, Brothers Bill, Othar Jr. and Robert Sterling.
She is survived by her 3 children, Bob Woody Jr. (Jodi), Debbie Huffman, Bill Woody (Patti) all of Lakeland, Tn. In addition she has 10 Grandchildren - Nickolas (Liz), Keith, Ashlee(Henry), Samantha (Jame), Sydney, Zackary (Kaylla), Taylor (Hunter), Matthew, Kaitlyn, Michael and 6 Great-grandchildren - Andi, Keith, Lanie, Graham, Elle, and Emma. Last but not least, she also was blessed with 24 Grand "fur babies".
Fran was a lifelong member of the church including Park Avenue Baptist, Bellevue Baptist, and Calvary Church of the Nazarene, all in Memphis.
Fran worked hard most of her life and was a self-made, successful Business Woman. When her children were young she worked the night shift at the GE bulb plant in Memphis. In the early seventies she decided that she wanted more and obtained her real estate license. To get her Real Estate career started she went door to door asking people if they wanted to sell their homes. Two years later she was a member of the Million Dollar Sales Club and later was promoted to Sales Manager at Sterling Reality (no relation). Subsequently she was the Sales Manager at Dan Stewart Reality and ended her Real Estate career as the as the Sales Manager of Crye-Lieke Reality. Post Real Estate, she wanted to buy a business and day care was the industry. Learning Tree Daycare was created and 25 years later it is 4 Centers strong each built from ground up. The Centers are now managed by Fran's Children and Grandchildren, caring for close to 700 children per day. Needless to say, Ms Fran, as she was known in her Daycares, has had an impact on thousands of children and their families over the past 25 years!
Fran's passions included her family, baking, mastering the garage sale, going to the lake, reading and competitive Bridge where she earned the distinction of Life Master.
Services will be held at Calvary Church of the Nazarene, located at 1851 N Houston Levee Rd, Cordova, TN 38016, Thursday June 21, 2018. Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. to 12:P.M.; service at 12:00 and a graveside service immediately following at Memorial Park on Poplar Ave. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Family Funeral Care of Memphis.
In Lieu of flowers please send donations to St Jude Children's Research Hospital.
