Frances Faye Wittenberg

Frances Faye Christina Holt Wittenberg, age 95, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many, died on October 25, 2025. She was born November 29, 1929, in Beaumont, Texas, the daughter of Joseph "Joe" James Christina and Frances Golda Miller. Her brother, Joe Weldon Christina, who she cherished all her life, was born there in 1932. The family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1939, where both their parents worked at the newly established Naval Air Station until their retirement.

Frances Faye graduated in 1948 as valedictorian of Sundeen High School. She attended Del Mar Junior College and Texas A&I (now Texas A&M) where she graduated with a degree in elementary education. She returned to Corpus Christi and taught first grade at Sundeen Elementary and bought a brand new 1952 two-tone Mercury, driving her brother to his church baseball games where she met her future husband, Francis Holt, a student pastor. The two of them married a year later and moved to Austin, where he completed his seminary training while she taught at the Texas School for the Deaf.

Following his ordination, Francis and Frances Faye served Presbyterian churches in Texas (Elysian Fields, Bowie, Seagraves, Denver City) and Arkansas (Ashdown, Washington, Mena, Des Arc, Sylvania). She took some time off from teaching when her two sons, Kent and Paul, were born, but returned to that calling, obtaining a master's degree in education in 1975, and later becoming the reading coordinator for Cabot Public Schools until her retirement in 2002, completing a 46-year career of teaching and mentoring generations of students and fellow teachers. Throughout her life she loved to travel. Every summer the family took camping trips where she navigated their VW bus throughout the U.S. and Canada, marveling in God's creation, and, on one occasion, singing the Doxology after making it up and over the Continental Divide. Her love of foreign travel began with a trip to the Soviet Union with the Amon Baker Choir where she helped distribute Bibles.

Her faith in Christ sustained her throughout her life. Known for her uplifting voice and infectious smile, whatever she did, she did with all her heart, and she passed her joy and enthusiasm for God's creation on to her children, grandchildren, and all those who knew her. She met life's adversity with courage and grace. Her husband, Francis, died in 1986. In 1991, she married Edward Wittenberg, and the two of them, along with her son, Paul, traveled extensively until shortly before Ed's death in 2005. She and Paul continued traveling in the summers, going to Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, where Paul climbed the tower stairs and kissed the Blarney Stone for her. She courageously supported and championed Paul throughout his life, especially during his illness and death in 2015. In 2020, she, along with her longtime companion, Bitsy, moved to Presbyterian Village in Little Rock to be closer to her family and the beauty shop.

Frances Faye was preceded in death by her husbands, Rev. Francis Holt and Edward Wittenberg, as well as her son, Paul James Holt, and her dear sweet brother, Dr. Joe Weldon Christina of Corpus Christi, Texas. She is survived by her son Kent and wife Julie of Little Rock; grandchildren Olivia Holt, Oliver Holt, Jennifer Thompson, and Jonathan Thompson; sister-in-law, Mrs. Carolyn Christina, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family wishes to thank both Hospice Home Care and Arkansas Hospice for the loving care they provided at the end of Frances Faye's remarkable journey.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. at Moore's Cabot Funeral Home 501-843-5816. On Thursday, October 30, there will be a pre-service gathering at Cabot United Methodist Church starting at noon where everyone can be part of her "lunch bunch," followed by a service at 1:30 p.m. celebrating her life. Frances Faye will be laid to rest at Sylvania Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, you may make a memorial contribution to Presbyterian Village or your favorite charity.