FRANKIE POWERS HOLDEN

FRANKIE POWERS HOLDEN, longtime resident of the District 15 Community and wife of the late Melton "Mutt" Holden died at 2 P.M. Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis where she had been a patient for fifteen days. She was 84 years of age and died following an extended illness of several months.

Funeral services for Mrs. Holden were conducted at 11 A.M. Friday, March 20th at the Peebles Main Funeral Chapel in Somerville with Chaplain Richard Kilpatrick of the Caris Hospice Organization in Somerville, officiating. Interment followed in the Rehobeth Cemetery of the District 15 Community. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-Main Chapel of Somerville.

Mrs. Holden was born September 29, 1924 in Chattanooga, Oklahoma, the daughter of the late Earl H. Powers and the late Clara Latricia Branum Powers. She moved at an early age with her parents to West Tennessee and was educated in the Tennessee Public School System. She was a graduate of the Middleton Tennessee High School, Class of 1942.

She was married September 16, 1942 to Melton "Mutt" Holden, employee of the Fayette County Highway Department and World War II Army Veteran. Mr. Holden died on November 3, 1973.

A resident of Fayette County for over seventy-three years, Mrs. Holden was a homemaker throughout her life and in earlier years was employed by the Salant and Salant Manufacturing Company in Somerville.

A warm and devoted Daycare provider for many years, "Mrs. Frankie" doubled as a second mother or grandmother to many local children and loved them all as she did her own.

Never one to meet a stranger, she will be remembered for her gentle, kind mannerisms and loving concern for all. Flower and vegetable gardening and preparing food for her family were "labors of love" to her.

Mrs. Holden was a lifelong Christian and Methodist known for her spiritual values and compassion. She left a legacy of faith, service, devotion and love for family, friends and community.

Survivors of Mrs. Holden include her daughter, Cindy Smallwood (Lee) of Somerville; two sons, Melton Horace Holden (Alice) and Murray Wayne Holden (Dorothy), both of Somerville; four sisters: Peggy Cox of Somerville; Sadie Davis of Hickory Valley, TN and Inez Voyles and Valeria Bishop, both of Somerville; two brothers, Jimmy Powers and Bill Powers, both of Somerville; fourteen grandchildren; forty-six great-grandchildren and twenty-one great-great-granchildren.

She was preceded in death by one sister, Jewel Davis and two brothers, Houston Powers and Earl Powers.

Those honored to serve as casket bearers were Chris Bobbitt, Jason Bobbitt, Mike Davis, Tim Holden, Chris Kee and Jason Kee.

Honorary casket bearers were Jessie Davis, Levi Glover and Alex Hunsucker.

The family request that memorials be directed to the Fayette County Chapter of the American Cancer Society or to the Rehobeth Cemetery Association.