Frances Preston Smith Graves, 89, of Athens, passed away September 20th, 2022, at her home.
She was predeceased by her husband, Junius Greenwood Graves; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Homer Arthur Smith (Mary Pringle); and one grandchild, Margaret (Maggie) Elizabeth Seckman.
Mrs. Graves was born in Columbia, SC in 1932. Her family moved to Guntersville, Al. where she graduated from High School. In 1951 her family moved to Athens. She graduated from Newcomb College, of Tulane University in N. O., La. with a bachelor of fine arts degree in drawing and painting and from Tennessee Wesleyan College. She was painting and arts teacher at Tennessee Wesleyan college, with the YMCA, in private classes and the Athens City Schools.
She loved her family, her church, her town and her country. She dearly loved working with others and any type of art medium. She was instrumental in introducing the Art Enrichment program in Athens City Schools. She was an accomplished artist, her artwork was displayed in many homes around the country and in many shows, including Tennessee Wesleyan College, Fisher Public Library in Athens, Lenoir City Spring Art Show and Plum Nelly, Hunter Gallery, High Museum, Halma, Dulin and many others.
She will always be remembered as a gracious, welcoming, strong, adventurous and resilient lady. She enjoyed her bridge and tennis friends and trips to Dog Island with her parents and family, drawing, sketching and painting. She thought the Athens area landscapes were especially wonderful, especially for her artistic passion.
She was grateful to be a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church in both Guntersville, Al. and Athens. She was a member of St. Paul’s Altar Guild, on the Vestry at St. Paul’s church and a Sunday school teacher. She belonged to The Tennessee Watercolor Society, Kanunsita Garden Club, Athens Civic Artists League and Springbrook Club. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, National Society Magna Charta Dames and Barons and The National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, Thomas Lygon Chapter.
Survivors include her sister, Mrs. James A. (Mary Pringle) Patrick; her nephew, Michael H.H. Patrick; her three children, Dr. and Mrs. David H. Sibley (Mary (Holly) Holston) of Birmingham; Mr. and Mrs. R. Clay Seckman (Elizabeth (Betsy) Wellford) of Franklin; Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin B. Graves (Amanda) of Athens; grandchildren, Sarah Sibley, Anna Jones, and Hays Wick, Preston, Pringle and Sterett Seckman and Benjamin and Samuel Graves; eight great-grandchildren; three nieces; and her companion of several years, W.C. Adams.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Athens, with the Rev. Claire Brown officiating. The family will receive friends in the church parish hall starting at 1 p.m., preceding the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 123 S. Jackson St., Athens, Tn. 37303, or to the Athens Arts Area Council, 320 North White St., Athens, Tn. 37303.
The family would like to thank Dr. Charles Cox, Ascent Care and Home Helpers for their loving care of their mother.