Frances Elizabeth Daniel

Frances Elizabeth Falkner Daniel passed away at her home on December 18, 2025, following a courageous battle with cancer. Frances was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She possessed a remarkable gift for conversation and truly never met a stranger.

Born in Vance County, North Carolina, Frances was the eldest child of former Vance County Sheriff Linwood Belmont Falkner and Elizabeth Baker Falkner. She grew up in Henderson, where some of her earliest memories included helping her parents feed and care for those held at the local jail. On weekends, Frances earned fifty cents ironing for the jail and for family members—money she happily spent on tickets and snacks at the local movie theater and skating rink. She loved roller skating and spent many hours of her youth at the local rink, attending parties and dances with her friends.

Frances was a member of North Henderson Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir and was occasionally featured on local radio. She graduated from Henderson High School in 1956, coming of age during the “Happy Days” era. Following graduation, she was employed by Carolina Telephone as a telephone operator, a role that allowed her to speak with governors, vice presidents, and even celebrities. One of her favorite memories was traveling to California for work and being seated across from actor Gregory Peck on her flight.

In 1964, Frances married Samuel Wright Daniel, and together they began raising their family in the Enon community of Granville County. Frances devoted herself to raising their two daughters, serving as a classroom “grade mother” and volunteering in local schools to help teach reading. A voracious reader, she was passionate about ensuring all children had the opportunity to develop a love of books.

Driven by a lifelong desire for learning, Frances returned to school and earned a degree from Vance-Granville Community College in 1981, making the Dean’s List multiple times. In 1982, she reentered the workforce as a customer service representative for Almay Cosmetics, later Revlon, representing the company’s Halston designer division. She greatly enjoyed her years with the company. After retiring from Revlon, Frances worked as a receptionist at Winston Williams Creech and Evans, CPA, in Oxford, where she delighted in working with a diverse clientele.

Frances cherished time with her family. She and Sam were blessed with two grandchildren, who loved spending time with “Nana and Bobo.” Summers spent at the beaches of North and South Carolina were among her favorite memories. She was afforded an opportunity to travel across the US and developed a fondness for the American Southwest. Frances had a deep appreciation for music and art, a passion she enthusiastically passed on to her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughters, Denise “Dee Dee” Daniel Holmes (Dan) of Oxford and Amy Daniel Franklin of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; her grandchildren, Evynne Wright Franklin and Ethan Powell Franklin; her brother, Arthur B. Falkner (Alice) of Henderson; and her sister, Shirley F. Hale of Wilmington, NC. Frances was blessed with many cousins, and through marriage, became part of a large and loving extended family. She is also survived by her beloved nieces and nephews, and by special family friend and caregiver, Betsy Reese of Creedmoor, whose thoughtful care allowed Frances to live independently until her illness. The family also extends heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff of Duke Hospice.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents, Linwood and Elizabeth Falkner; her husband, Samuel Wright Daniel; and her sister, Carolyn Falkner Brown.

A celebration of Frances’s life will be held on January 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Enon Baptist Church, 2298 Enon Rd, Oxford, North Carolina, 27565. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. prior to the service, and the family will host friends and loved ones afterward in the church community building. A private burial will take place prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to a charity of your choice during this holiday season.

The family is being cared for by Gentry-Newell & Vaughan, 503 College Street, Oxford, NC 27565.