Frances Mason

Frances Marie T. Mason SUFFOLK - After a long and courageous battle with cancer, our beloved mother, Frances Marie Mason, 76, passed away peacefully Sept. 28, 2008. She was a native of Chatham County, North Carolina, and was the seventh and youngest child of the late Vernie and Bessie Truelove. She retired as an administrative specialist for the South Carolina Department of Transportation and was a cosmetologist. She was predeceased by her son, Larry W. Mason Sr. and her grandson, Larry W. Mason Jr. She was also predeceased by her former husband and father of her children, Billy Mason. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her four children, Dianne M. Johnson and husband D. Ervin Johnson of Chesapeake, Nancy M. Maltby of Florence, S.C., Karen M. McClung and husband Robert of Chesapeake, and Billy Joe Mason and wife Debbie of Suffolk. She was affectionately known as "Granny Mason" to 10 grandchildren, Bryan Johnson and wife Shannon, Chris Johnson, Kevin Johnson and wife Sandy, Shane Arrington, Becky Maltby, Kenton McClung and wife Tracy, Billy McClung and wife Alicia, Michael McClung, Nickie Stone and husband Jerry, and Will Mason; 11 great-grandchildren, Mattison, Bailey, Hunter, Tanner, Kayde, Dylan, Charis, Emma, Tristen, Marissa and Taya. Also surviving are brother, Joe Truelove and wife Irene of Lexington, N.C. and a host of loving relatives and friends. She returned to this area from North Carolina 18 months ago and had been a resident at Nansemond Pointe Nursing Home since January 2008. She recently became a member of Great Fork Baptist Church in Suffolk. She was a loving mother and a living example of a true Christian woman who demonstrated her love for the Lord by witness and her testimony. The family would like to extend many thanks to Dr. Alex Su and his staff with Virginia Oncology Associates for their compassion and support during her illness and also Heartland Hospice for the care and support shown to her and her family. The family will always be grateful for the many special caregivers at Nansemond Pointe Nursing Home who cared for her with love and kindness. Please join the family at Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel, for a visitation Wednesday at noon. The service will immediately follow at 1 p.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Craig McLeod of Buffalo, N.Y., and the Rev. Don Jones of Suffolk. Following the service, the family asks that you join them at the Commons of Centerbrooke Community Room, 1056 Centerbrooke Lane in Suffolk, her previous residence, for a time of visitation and fellowship. Entombment will be private at a later date. www.SturtevantFuneralHome.com.