Frances Elizabeth Bond

Frances Elizabeth Bond, name meaning “Free One” and “God is my oath” was called into eternal rest by the Lord on September 29, 2022, at the age of 90. “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).

Frances was born to the late Harriet Neill Warren in Hendersonville, North Carolina, on March 6, 1932. She was raised in North Carolina and graduated from Stephens Lee High School, Asheville, NC. Upon graduation, Frances joined the United States Army and worked in a medical unit and was responsible for duties in the OB/GYN department. Frances served in the military during a time in which segregation was prevalent; she had many stories to tell about the obstacles she had to overcome. When Frances left

the military she briefly returned home to North Carolina and then went to business school in Washington, D.C. She left Washington, D.C. and moved to New York. While living in New York City she saw a pedestrian get hit by a car and when the driver kept going Frances decided New York was not the place for her. Frances headed out west to Denver, Colorado and made that her home. She lived there and raised her beautiful daughter Dana lovingly called ‘Dainty’ until they all moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1970.

While in Columbus,Ohio, Frances graduated from Columbus Paraprofessional School and obtained her Certified Medical Assistant certificate. When she attended Columbus Paraprofessional School, she spent many late nights studying and with the help of her late husband Lloyd, she would ensure all household obligations were properly maintained. She took pride in ensuring her nursing uniform was gleamingly white, starched and ironed as if it came from the local dry cleaners and her white nursing shoes were polished to perfection.

For many years Frances was a faithful member of The Original Glorious Church of God in Christ in Columbus, Ohio. While she was there, she was a Minister, Sunday School Teacher, and served on the Nurses Guild and Usher Board. Frances was very detail oriented. She had a candid and well-intentioned personality which was sprinkled with care and compassion. From scriptures, to Bible history, proper etiquette, to proper grammar, Frances loved to teach. She would jokingly say, “well, that person has not been to Frances’ Finishing School” or “that person needs to come to Frances’ Finishing School”. Those who knew Frances will have their own stories and memories to share (smile).

Frances is preceded in death by: her husband, James Lloyd Bond; mother, Harriet Neill; sister, Eleanor Lewis; and niece, Patrice Harris. Left to cherish her memories are her: daughter Dana and son-in-law Gerald Strother of Surprise, Arizona; granddaughter Natara Strother of Chesapeake Beach, MD; grandson Gerald Strother II of Honolulu, HI; grandchildren-in-laws, Johnny Ware and Huong Ngo; great-granddaughters Kristiana and Myana Ware, and Zi’Kai and Aiko’Kai Strother; nieces Carol (Stephen) Rosas and Pam (Sean) Keith. Frances also leaves behind to cherish her memory, beloved half-siblings, cousins, family, friends, and church family.

Frances would like to leave this scripture of comfort for her family and friends. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall

descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words (I Thessalonians 4: 13-18).

Frances will have a private homegoing service on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at The National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona which will be officiated by her nephew-in-law Bishop Stephen Rosas of San Diego, CA. The family would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of prayers, love, and support during this difficult time.