Mrs. Frances Lay Newton

Frances Leona Lay Newton was born in Salem, S.C. on October 31, 1920. She was one of the ten children of John Sam Lay and Kate Burgess Lay. She spent most of her life in Clemson, S.C. where she worked with her husband Johnnie Joel Newton running their business and raising five children. Johnnie and Frances met on July 11,1937 . After a five month courtship they married on December 24, 1937. Johnnie and Frances spend the next twelve years traveling from Charlotte, N.C. to Reading, Pa. to Albany, N.Y. to Oak Ridge, Tenn. They were working on different construction projects. In 1945, Johnnie and Frances moved back to Clemson, S.C. where they started their welding/fabrication business and continued to raise their family. They worked hard and built a successful business. Their faith grew and they committed their lives to Jesus Christ at an evangelistic meeting at the Clemson Weslyan Church. The Newtons provided a nurturing, loving Christian home for their children. Frances and Johnnie Newton passed their faith and strong work ethic to their children and grandchildren. They both felt the best sermon was a good example and gave their children guidance on how to work, love, and laugh. Johnnie had nearly fatal burns and endured numerous operations and had a steady decline in his health. Again as with all challenges, Frances and Johnnie were great examples of faithfulness and stick-to-itiveness. In their later years, they moved from their home in Clemson to a small farm in nearby Central, S.C. They loved the farm on the top of a red clay hill in Central, but after almost 60 years of marriage, Frances lost the love of her life when Johnnie died from the complications of Alzheimers. Frances lived on the farm until 2006, then moved to Charlotte, N.C.to live near her daughter. She enjoyed her time being near her twin granddaughters. Her health became more frail and she could not live alone. She moved to Richmond Va.in 2014 and lived with her son, Mark and his family. She remained a blessing to those she was near; she was able to get to know her youngest grandchildren, making them smile and teaching them Bible verses. All through her life, Frances Lay Newton was a proud, sincere, hard working lady blessing those around with her humor, her wonderful smile and a wonderful example. Indeed her story is the story of a generation of Americans that grew up during World War II and have passed a great legacy and blessing to children and grandchildren. Frances is survived by her five children: Johnnie Joel Newton Jr, (Kitty), Jeffrey M. Newton, (Carolyn Ballard), Ronald W. Newton, (Martha), C. Mark Newton, (Marcy), and F. Charissa McSwain, (Michael) ; fourteen grandchildren: Reggie, Ric, Bradley, Harvey, Jonathan, Greg, Beth, Mary Frances, Jeffrey, Matthew, Meredith, Cara, Sawyer and Samuel. Step grandchildren: Jeffery, Jason, Hannah, Taylor and Caleb. One sister : Mina Sue Lay Underwood of Pa. Many nieces, nephews and great grandchildren. We have all been blessed by this life, may we in turn be a blessing.