Funeral will be at 2:00pm Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter for Mrs. Frances Tatum Ralls, age 97, of Hoover, formerly of Gadsden, who died February 24, 2018. Father Carl Saxon will officiate. Burial will be at Forrest Cemetery.
Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation services will direct.
Mrs. Ralls married Col. Howard L. Ralls Jr. in 1966. Her parents were Robert P. Tatum and Jennie Tatum. Mrs. Ralls was awarded with a Ford Foundation Fellowship that took her to New York City from 1952-1953 at Columbia University and more than a dozen cities in the Midwest and far West. She taught at Disque Jr. High and Emma Sansom High. As a teacher, she touched many with her knowledge of music. She also sang in the Holy Comforter Church Choir for 40 years and was active in musical theater. Always involved in community life, she became a volunteer with Holy Name of Jesus Hospital (now Riverview Regional Medical Center), where she has worked on the information desk for 30 years, compiling more than 4,000 hours of service. Frances later became a tutor with the Adult Education program.
She is survived by her Birmingham family; daughter Jennie (Gary) Clements, granddaughters Katherine McPherson, Emily Clements, and Amy Clements, her Georgia family; son George (Nancy) Ralls, grandchildren George (Rebecca) Ralls, Vicki Ralls Mobley, her Oregon family; daughter-in-law Gloria Ralls, grandchildren Nancy (Tim) Hess , and Howard (Renee) Ralls, and special great-grands, Miranda McPherson and Ada McPherson.
Pallbearers will be Ken Rains, Michael McPherson (grandson), George Ralls (grandson), Dudley McPherson, Randy Holland, and Joe Saxon.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Jack Rutledge and Roscoe Johnson.
Special thanks to Prince of Peace Communion Ministers.
The family will receive friends at the church Wednesday from 12 pm until 2 pm.
Online condolences may be made at www.collier-butler.com.
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