Frances Wood Coates

She was born in Nelson County on September 1, 1926, daughter of late Herbert C. (Jack) Wood and Flossie Elizabeth Banton Wood.

Frances was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, William Lafayette (Bill) Coates; a son, Randall Bryan Coates; sons-in-law, J. Edward (Eddie) Freeman and George A. Wilson, Jr.; a brother, Marvin Wood; sisters, Charlotte Wood, Ollie Mae Courington and Marion Wiles; brothers-in-law, Melton “Tex” Courington, Benjamin Wiles, Percy Glover and half-brother, Montague Wood.

She joined Madison Heights Baptist Church in 1952, served as G.A. Director for several years, and helped found the Cradle Roll Department, Alice Lang Circle and Annie Mae Broyles Circle. She was an active member of Sunday School and the W.M.U., volunteered at Lynchburg General Hospital in Admissions and made teddy bears for young patients. Frances’s real passion was quilts for family members, friends, and people in need, sewing nearly 300 in her lifetime.

Left to cherish her memory are, two daughters, Sharon Freeman (Steve Horne) and Pamela Wilson of Madison Heights; one son, Timothy W. Coates (Terry) of Lynchburg; daughter-in-law, Tammy Pingley Coates of Madison Heights; five grandchildren, Tammy Brooks of Las Vegas, NV, Shannon Belangia of Newport News, Nicholle “Colley” Coates of Davenport, FL, Brittany Wilson of Madison Heights, and Erin Coates of Lynchburg; two great-grandchildren, Robbie and Olivia Belangia; one brother, Herbert Wood (Peggy) of Madison Heights; two sisters, Virginia Glover of Glade Spring and Mary Mitchell (Les) of Gladys; sister-in-law, Anna Wood of Johnson City, TN; a half-brother, Billy Wood and a half-sister, Jane Williams of Arrington; an aunt, Betty Lee Goff as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, October 11, 2024 at Saint Stephens Baptist Church Cemetery, 2903 Tye River Road, Amherst VA

Those wishing to make a memorial contribution in her honor, please consider Saint Stephens Baptist Church Cemetery Fund c/o Jo Ann Bryant 2962 Boxwood Farm Road, Amherst, VA 24521.