Frances Babington

Babington, Frances Ann McConnell, 74, of Montgomery, slipped peacefully into eternity in the early morning hours of March 28 after a brief illness. She was surrounded by her three children and husband of almost 55 years.

Survivors are her husband Thomas Macaulay (Tom) Babington; daughter Charlotte Elizabeth (Libby) Babington of Hartford, AL; sons William McMurray Babington (Shelley), Montgomery, and Thomas Whitfield (Bud) Babington, Orlando, FL; grandson Forrest M. Babington, Alpharetta, GA; and granddaughters, Murray McConnell Babington and Marilee Macaulay Babington, both of Montgomery.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Whitfield Emmons (Mac) McConnell and Iola Hood McConnell, both of Montgomery.

Frances was born and raised in Montgomery, attending Cloverdale School and Sidney Lanier High School where she graduated in 1960 with a Latin diploma. At Lanier, she was a band member and as a senior was head majorette of the Marching Poets. She earned an associate degree from Massey Draughon Business College following high school and married her husband Tom in August, 1961, while he was attending Huntingdon College.

Frances was a voracious reader and helped to form a reading group at her church, Aldersgate United Methodist.

As a mother, she was engaged in all of her children’s activities which included parent support in their schools as well as extra-curricular pursuits in athletics, scouting, and at church.

In 1977, Cub Scout Pack 307, the largest one in Montgomery at the time, found it itself without a Pack Cubmaster. There were no willing volunteers so Frances accepted a leadership role normally reserved for men. According to one veteran scouter, she may have been the only woman in memory to occupy that position.

A very creative person, Frances enjoyed cooking perhaps best of all and received a number of awards for her dishes.

A Memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 11:00 am at Adersgate United Methodist Church in Montgomery, visitation will begin at 10:00 am, and a brief visitation following the service.

For those wishing to honor her life and memory, contributions may be made to Aldersgate United Methodist Church,

6610 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36116, aldersgateumc.org under Giving or to the charity of your own choosing.