Frances Moss McGraw

Frances is survived by her son, Denny McGraw, Jr and wife, Jerry, of Carrollton, Texas; sister, Doris Ann Spell of Jackson Mississippi; grandchildren, Denise Wade and husband, Dayton, Doug McGraw, Michelle Smith, Melanie Lawton and husband, Drew, Kathie Thomison and husband, Bart; great grandchildren Connor, Daisy, Brock, Karson, Kaleb, Logan, Cooper, and Blake, as well as numerous other loving family members and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Denny McGraw, Sr.; son, Bobby McGraw; brother, John A. Moss and sisters, Eloise Stewart and Ruth Mitchell.

During life in San Antonio, Frances was active through leadership in many Brackenridge High school activities. Under the ministry of Brother Jessie Yelvington at Baptist Temple Church, Frances became a Christian, changing her life and launching a lifetime of Christian study, worship and service. After graduation from Brackenridge in 1944, Frances and family moved to Jackson, Mississippi. From Jackson, Frances returned to Belton, Texas to attend Mary Hardin Baylor University, thence upon commencement of WWII, returned to Jackson to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in English & Education at Belhaven College. During college Frances served as Baptist Student Union President of the school then likewise for the State of Mississippi.

While attending MHBC Frances met future husband, Denny on the Texas A&M campus, Thanksgiving Day, 11/22/1942. After all of 3 dates, Frances & Denny were engaged, then it was off to war in the South Pacific for three long, long years of engagement separation.

Living in San Marcos, Austin, Round Rock, Plano and finally Carrollton, Texas, she had a passion for work, study and service at her churches, from teaching and ministry activities at First Baptist and Hyde Park Baptist churches in Austin to loving everything about Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano.

Frances was a home maker and "gathering" hostess extraordinaire, teacher in both Church Bible classes and the school room, Hyde Park Baptist Church Elementary School Principal, Women's Missionary Union officer, member of Pastoral search committees, mentor to all who would seek, friend-maker par excellence, owner of a car that would stall at every left hand turn, and one of the heartiest laughers one could find. (She knew how to open the hood of the right-handed car and make it start with a screw driver.)

A more voracious Bible reader would be hard to find. Frances read the Bible through countless times, in many versions and volumes, all of which are side-noted and underlined. Remarkable.

To many family members, Frances was known, at times literally, figuratively, lovingly and in some jest, simply as The Mother. She fulfilled the role of Matriarch as few can.

A grand lady and member of that infamous "Greatest Generation", Frances Belle Moss McGraw, The Mother, is gone from our sight, present with Jesus.

Memorials may be made to:

Prestonwood Baptist Church

6801 W Park Blvd

Plano, TX 75093

Faith Presbyterian Hospice

4350 Sigma Rd. #400

Dallas, TX 75244