of Winston Salem, NC

June 14, 1919 - March 12, 2023

When you have fought the good fight and finished the race, any day is a good day to be called Home!

Orah Frances McMillan Thomas went to her Heavenly Home at the age of 103. God gently and quietly called her name on March 12, 2023, as she was sleeping. Being a Christian, she knew all things were in His Hands and He would call her home at her appointed time.

Frances was born on June 14, 1919, in Sheridan, Arkansas, to Christian parents Alva and Leora McMillan. Being the baby girl in a family of 7, she was often allowed to escape the harder house and farm work. She would say, "I was spoiled" and her brother and 3 older sisters would agree. Even as adults her sisters teasingly called her "the spoiled baby sister". She and her 3 sisters had a close, loving, fun relationship until their deaths. Growing up she enjoyed an idyllic childhood attending church activities and riding horses with her sisters and friends.

Her husband, James "Buddy'' Morris Thomas, was a popular handsome football player in high school. James would tease Frances that she was lucky to catch him. She would smile back and say ''you are the lucky one.'' James was a navy sailor for a short time in WWII. Frances married the love of her life in May 1943, and they went to California to help with the war effort. Frances was a true "Rosie the Riveter". They returned to Arkansas and started a family. For a brief time, the family lived in Indiana where Frances learned, after a few car dents, to drive on ice and snow. She enjoyed helping her daughter and son build snowmen and ice skate. The family had many fun times sledding and Frances was very competitive and was usually the fastest one down the slopes leaving her family behind. Back in Little Rock, Arkansas, Frances was a homemaker and James drove a truck for Studebaker and this is when the family began their love of camping and fishing. When their children finished school, Frances and James started a new adventure. They bought an RV, traveled, square danced, fished, played cards with friends and Frances even got to watch James learn how to waterski at a young age of 50. Winter time would find them as Snow Birds in Harlingen, Texas, visiting with friends, traveling, square dancing and going out to eat-lots of going out to eat. Frances never learned how to ride a bike, so James bought them a Bicycle Built for Two and they would ride through the RV resort and James would sometimes sing the song Daisy Bell "but you'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two."

James, Frances' only love, died suddenly while they were square dancing in November 1983. They were married for 40 years. After James' death she continued helping in the church's nursery, square dancing (even learning to dance the ''man's part"), playing cards and fishing with her grandchildren. In her later years she moved from Arkansas to North Carolina to be close to her daughter, son-in-law and her granddaughter's family. She enjoyed attending Calvary Baptist Church, driving until she was 90, living independently until November 2022, having her son and daughter-in-law pray for her at night, having her daughter read her the bible, playing cards for as late as anyone would stay up with her, playing checkers with her son-in-law, having her daily coca cola and seeing/talking to her family. She loved traveling to the beach and taking car rides to the mountains in the fall.

Her family gives thanks to God for His faithfulness to Frances and praise Him for granting her a long life to love and pray for her family. Her last words, always, to her family were "I love you More!"

Proceeding Frances in death was her loving husband James "Buddy" Morris Thomas, parents Alva and Leora McMillian, brother Glyn McMillan, and sisters Erchie Dunvan, Coye Newton, and Essie Shepherd. She is survived by daughter Delores Patterson (Doug) of Winston Salem North Carolina, son James Ricky Thomas (Cindy) of San Antonio, Texas, grandchildren Bliss Stowers (Gunar) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Lane Patterson (Heather) of Little Rock, Arkansas, Caleb Sparks and Joshua Sparks (Brittney) of San Antonio, Texas, great grandchildren, Gage Stowers (24), Aubrey Stowers (19), Braelyn Patterson (16), Brody Patterson (14) and Finley Patterson (11), many beloved nieces and beloved nephew.

Visitation will be Thursday, March 23, 2023, at Roller Chanel, Little Rock, from 5pm-7pm. Graveside services will follow Friday, March 24, 2023, at Little Rock National Cemetery on Springer Road at 11:30am.

Memorial donations may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Arkansas. Donations can be mailed to JDRF Arkansas Chapter, 3001 Metro Drive, Suite 100, Bloomington, MN 55425 or online at https://bit.ly/3DaYa93

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