Frances Threadgill Harrington

Fran lost a hard-fought battle to ovarian cancer on October 11, 2023. She was born on November 20, 1934 to Lige and Lucy Threadgill in the Sugar Town community of Polkton, North Carolina. While at Polkton High School, she met the love of her life, Mason Harrington. They wed on November 17, 1953. Celebrating seventy years of marriage was important to Fran, and the milestone fueled her determination to fight cancer aggressively.

At various times in her life, Fran worked outside the home. She clerked at Belk Department store in Wadesboro, NC while Mason served in the Navy and joined him in running the Polkton Grill early in their marriage. Once her girls reached junior and senior high, Fran worked at Eckerd Warehouse for over fifteen years.

However, Fran was primarily a homemaker and took pride in raising her family, keeping an immaculate house, and tending to her flower and vegetable gardens. She generously shared food from her garden—provided the quality met her high standards. Fran also canned fruits and vegetables and made jams, jellies, and preserves, often as a joint effort with her mother down home in Polkton. Although her culinary skills provided her family with delicious, nutritious meals year round, they particularly enjoyed her Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinners, which featured sweet potato pies and coconut and carrot cakes.

During their retirement, Mason and Fran tended their yard and gardens and traveled to several states on the East and West coasts, the Mid- and Southwest, and New England. They also enjoyed a touch of international travel with trips to Canada and Mexico. In later years, they looked forward to annual beach trips to Garden City, SC with their daughter, Cindy, and son-in-law, Roddy.

Fran was preceded in death by her parents and brother, J. C. Threadgill. She is survived by her husband, Mason; daughters, Cindy Langley (Roddy) and Chris Harrington; brother, Lonnie Threadgill; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service for Frances will be held Monday, October 16, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Sharon Memorial Park, 5716 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28212.

The family requests that you consider making a memorial to: Novant Health Hospice, PO Box 33549, Charlotte, NC or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

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