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Frances Nettles Obituary
Frances was a native of Newport News and a 1935 graduate of the College of William & Mary. She was a biology teacher and chairman of the Science Department in the Newport News Public School System, first at Newport News High School and then at Menchville High School. Frances was dedicated to her students and conveyed to them her love of the natural world. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and The American Association of University Women. She was a former member of Orcutt Baptist Church and a current member of First Baptist Church.
Frances was preceded in death by her husband, Edgar L. Nettles.
Survivors include two daughters, Adrienne Holderby and LaRhue Mitchell and her husband, John; her grandchildren, Pam Jenkins, Jim and Sean Holderby, John and Edward Mitchell; and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at First Baptist Church, 12716 Warwick Blvd., Newport News.
The family wishes to thank the staff of the Health Care Unit at The Chesapeake for their service and dedication for so many years. The work they perform is valuable.
The family requests that memorial contributions be sent to The Peninsula Rescue Mission, 3700 Huntington Ave., Newport News, VA 23607. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Frances Nettles
LindaSeltzer Roesen
November 21, 2009
Adrienne and LaRhue:
Your Mother was a wonderful woman,
warm,caring,loving. The same can be
sad of your Dad,Edgar,always kind and
thoughtful. I know you are left with
wonderful memories. It is obvious that they imparted the finest values to both of you. You have been in my thoughts. I am well aware of how difficult it is to lose beloved parents.
Jimmie Michie
November 21, 2009
Dear Adrienne and LaRhue,
I was sad to hear of mothers’ death. My fondest memory of her was her embarrassment each marking period when she called me up to her desk and told me in a hushed tone that she was sorry, but she was going to have to give me a B because my notebook was incomplete. She was by far my favorite high school teacher and a truly delightful person.
November 21, 2009
LaRhue and Johnny-Our love to you and your family. We share your loss and thank God for her life.
Mary Hollomon Spooner
November 20, 2009
My condolences to your family on the "Homegoing" of your Mother. I'm sure the gates of Heaven were swung wide for her arrival.
Your Mother was a very special Christian lady. She taught me in Sunday school at Orcutt Avenue Baptist church. Every Sunday she would imprint her Christian values and how to live in the world on my young mind by her teaching of God's Word. Not only did she teach about God's Word, she exhibited those values in her own life. She had a quietness about her that made you feel that everything was going to be all right. Your Mother was a very influential person in my life.
In high school, your Mother was my most favorite teacher. She always had time to listen and give a kind word to students after school. I wanted to sit and listen to whatever your Mother had to say so much, that I took her Biology class in my senior year. (She was our Class Sponsor 1961.)
My thoughts and prayers are with you as you remember her in the service tomorrow.
November 20, 2009
LaRue....I had planned to be at your Moms service tomorrow, but things have come up and we need to go to our daughters in Alexandria tomorrow. As you know I visited the Chesapeake for serval years while my parents were there and always enjoyed talking to your Mom and Dad. As you know your Mom was one of my HS teachers and was a very special person. I know how difficult it has been for you and Johnny over the past several years, because I have been there....I know you regret that your Mom has passed,but have to be releaved that she is now is peace in a better place. I'll give you a call next week. John (AKS Junnie)
Annette Miller
November 19, 2009
Mrs. Nettles was such a special and beautiful lady. I feel very blessed indeed to have had the priviledge of knowing her and Mr. Nettles. Although I work in another area of The Chesapeake (not in health care),I would visit her often. The one thing that she could say plain as day, was "where have you been!" when it had been a while between visits! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, but I know you are already finding comfort in knowing how many lives your mother touched in her special way.
Joan Ownby-Mathieson
November 16, 2009
Dear LaRhue; I have such fond memories of your mama and dady back in our school days in Newport News. I know you feel good about doing everything you could to make sure her last years were as comfortable as could be. She lived a long and full life and had wonderful children and grandchildren to make her happy and proud....and lots of lives were made better by her years of dedicated teaching and mentoring of students. Please know that your family will be in my prayers and thoughts as you grieve. And my prayers will be with your mom too as she continues on in her journey of growing from strength to strength in perfect service to God. With love, Joan
Jodie Turner-Bixon
November 16, 2009
Mrs. Nettles was my home room teacher for four years. I looked forward to coming into her classroom each morning and seeing her beautiful smile. My desk was directly in front of her desk and I could smell that lovely powder she wore. Her face always glowed and her complexion was flawless.
I found her to always be inspirational and her caring ways touched us all. My fondest memories of NNHS will always be of Mrs. Nettles biology room. She was truly the essence of what a caring professional teacher should be. I will miss her so.
LeRhue, my sincere condolences go out to you and the entire family.
tod christian
November 15, 2009
LaRhue, it's been a lifetime, but I well remember your Mom and the excellent teacher she was (we will gloss over my ineptitude as a student)--she was an inspiration to those who would be inspired. Sadly, I was not yet ready.
I know what you and John have gone through, inasmuch as Erin and I did it twice with two of her uncles. Our blessing was that God took them before the situations became too burdensome with our three(at the time)little ones.
You are in my prayers.
Ex corde,old friend and classmate,
tod
Sandi Mirmelstein Levy
November 15, 2009
LaRhue - some of my fondest classroom memories are in Biology class with your Mom. She surely made a difference to many students. She was a lovely lady.
My thoughts are with you and your family at this time.
Betty Bean McCabe-Pandolfi
November 14, 2009
So sorry to hear about the death of Mrs. Nettles. It was nice to see her at our class reunions. She was a great advisor to the NNHS Class of 1961.
My thoughts and prayers are with her family. We will miss her.
November 14, 2009
Mrs. Nettles was my teacher many years ago at NNHS. Our 1961 class sponsor. I will forever remember her kindness and caring for her students. She always inspired you to do your very best and then helped you do it. God bless you all and may He comfort you as only He can do. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Yvonne Stallings Metzdorf
Dublin, Georgia
Julie Jaffee Nagel
November 14, 2009
I send condolences to the family of Mrs. Nettles. She was our NNHS 1961 class sponsor and influenced many people, including myself. I hope fond memories will sustain those closest to her at the time of her loss.
Julie Jaffee Nagel, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Phyllis Ball Gautreaux
November 13, 2009
I just received this sad news of the passing of this dear lady and wonderful teacher of mine so long ago. She was also our Senior Class Sponsor at Newport News High School in 1961! I know heaven rejoiced at her arrival! I will hold all who loved her in my prayers. May God give you comfort and peace as you grieve.
Glenn Dye
November 10, 2009
I am so sorry to learn of the loss of Mrs Nettles. What a sweet lady she was, and a great teacher that I remember as a student in her class. I also remember her husband from my days working in the shipyard. My prayers are with you, and your family.
George Helliesen
November 10, 2009
Please accept our prayers for the Nettles family. We lived beside them in Christopher Shores in Newport News for many years and they were wounderful people. I could tell many nice stories about them but time and space does not allow. God be with the family in their time of grief.
Norton Richman
November 10, 2009
I am so sorry for your loss. If there was a more caring person and teacher, I do not know of them. Mrs. Nettles help me feel good about me. May God bless her and your family.
Norton Richman
Norman Covert
November 8, 2009
I send sincere condolence to the family in the loss of Mrs. Nettles. She was a wonderful lady and teacher. How fortunate I am to have had her help me ‘make the grade” in biology in 1959. May God keep her in his care.
Becky McCallum
November 4, 2009
Mrs. Nettles was a beautiful person and a strong teacher. I look back to those years at Newport News High School as great years because of the friends there and because we were blessed with fabulous teachers like Mrs. Nettles. I remember her love of science, her firm kindness with students, and her absolutely gorgeous complexion. I'm glad she had a long life as she touched so many in a positive manner. While sad, I'm sure her family is very proud to have had such a wonderful person as a mentor.
All good wishes,
Becky Goolsby McCallum
Ron Smith
November 4, 2009
Mrs. Nettles was my tenth grade biology teacher at NNHS. She was always kind and understanding and what a "true" teacher should be. I will always remember fondly the time I spent in her class.
Ronnie Smith
November 4, 2009
John & LaRhue sorry to hear of your loss God Bless All.
Gail Pearce
November 3, 2009
Mrs. Nettles was my biology teacher at NNHS many years ago. She was an inspiration to me and made me want to excel. She is a teacher I have never forgotten especially because she was kind, loving and had the most gorgeous smile. She is and was loved by many.
Gail "Latta" Pearce
November 3, 2009
Sorry to hear of your loss. I only met Mrs. Nettles on one or two occasions when I was very young but I remember my mother Mildred who has passed on speaking of her many times as such a beautiful person. My mother did private duty nursing for Mrs. Nettles' mother and brother Eubank and another family member in the East End area of Newport News. May God be with the entire family during this most difficult time.
Barbara Clark Newton
Nancy Wynne
November 3, 2009
Bill and I send our sincere sympathy to your family.
Mrs. Nettles was a lovely woman and special on many levels. She was my Biology teacher at NNHS and I enjoyed her class. But before that she was a special neighbor and I recall dying Easter Eggs in her home several times while growing up in the East End. She and Mr. Nettles were special people at Orcutt Avenue Baptist Church during my youth and I will always remember them fondly.
We will keep your family in our thoughts and prayers.
Nancy (Mitchell)Wynne and Bill Wynne
John DiGiacomo
November 3, 2009
What a sweet lady and a great biology teacher. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to her remaining family. May she rest in peace.
Pam Garrett Chalkley
November 3, 2009
Mrs. Nettles was the cutest little lady at Orcutt. I'll bet that she and Virginia Smith are just kicking up their heels for joy as they dance around with their husbands in heaven. I have such fond memories of the Nettles family. Our loss is heaven's gain. We will all miss Frances so much.
Brownie Shaffer Haracivet
November 3, 2009
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. It is sad when our parents leave us no matter their age or ours. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
November 3, 2009
A new star will shine in heaven tonight. Frances has gone home. I have fond memories of her when I was a child. Your family lived next door to my Aunt Lee, and we girls played together.
My thoughts and prayers are with your families at this time.
Trissie Dobson Myers
Centerville, GA.
Linda Seward Vinyard
November 3, 2009
Mrs. Nettles was a wonderful teacher. I had her many years ago at Menchville. She was a very kind lady and I will always remember her. My prayers go out to the family. May God bring comfort to you and love through your family and many friends.
Bill & Debbie Vaccarelli & Staff, Danny's Deli
November 3, 2009
We are so sorry to hear about Mrs. Nettles. She and Mr. Nettles were very special people. Your family is in our hearts and prayers. Love,
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