Frances J. Keister

Surrounded by the love of her family, Frances Marie Jones Keister, 82, died peacefully at her home in Virginia Beach on Sept. 11, 2021, after a long battle with cancer. She leaves behind a legacy of love and acceptance passed down to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mom was born in Chesapeake, Va., on Jan. 17, 1939. She graduated second in her class from Great Bridge High School in 1957, and spent most of her life living in Tidewater.

Mom met her husband, Don K. Keister, working at the Virginian-Pilot after graduation. They married in 1959. In the early years of her marriage, Mom stayed home to raise her two children in Norfolk. When they reached school age, Mom took a job at Sears. This was followed by a job as a crossing guard, before working many years for the Carpenters Local in Norfolk.

The joy of music lived in Mom’s heart, and she loved to sing and celebrate God’s love in church choirs at Lafayette Presbyterian Church in Norfolk, Haygood United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach, and Piney Wood Friends Meeting in Belvidere, NC. For many years her alto voice and leadership were part of the Virginia Beach Chorale. Her love of singing lives on in her son and granddaughters.

Mom loved baking, and her stollen coffee cakes were a Christmas standard with friends and family for many years. Mom also loved to sew, and whether it was embroidery or quilting, Mom was always creating pieces to gift.

Mom had a huge heart, and she never met a stranger. A serious gardener who loved her irises, it wasn’t uncommon for her to invite folks home from the garden shop to get bulbs and plantings from her yard. She was active in volunteer work at her church and was always willing to lend a hand.

Mom’s greatest joy was seeing the success of her son, daughter and grandchildren and all of their accomplishments. She was especially proud to see her granddaughter, Virginia, become the first woman in her family to graduate from college, cum laude in Aerospace Engineering from NC State University.

In her final years, Mom renewed a relationship with her high school sweetheart, James Copeland of Tyner, NC, and lived in Tyner.

Mom was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon F. and Marie G. Jones, and her husband, Don.

She is survived by her partner, James; brother, Charles Jones of Chesapeake; son, Kevin (Amber) Keister and granddaughters, Virginia Mae and Jaime Noelle of Raleigh, NC; daughter, Kathleen (LCDR Michael Sprague, [Ret.]) Sprague of Virginia Beach; grandson, Christopher (Emily) Collins and great-granddaughters, Adelaide and Evangeline of Yorktown; granddaughter, Kristina (Eric) Wolf, great-grandsons, Peyton and Meritt, and great-granddaughter, Emerson, of Williamsburg; grandson, CDR Justin Sprague of Washington, DC, and great-grandson, Cody Sprague of Charleston, SC.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at 11 a.m. at Haygood United Methodist Church. A reception will follow in the social hall.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Frances’ memory to the Haygood Church Music Department, 4713 Haygood Road, Virginia Beach, 23455.