Mary Frances Baskins McCollum

Frances McCollum ANDERSON -- Mary Frances Baskins McCollum, widow of John R McCollum, of Anderson, passed away peacefully at The Rainey Hospice House on Wednesday, August 19, 2015. During the last ten years, she overcame six strokes to spring back as active and strong as ever. She suffered her last stroke nine days ago. Frances was born on February 20, 1928, to the late Lester and Ida Bennett Baskins in Franklin County, Georgia. She graduated from Royston High School in the class of 1946 and enjoyed seeing old friends and classmates at their annual reunion each October. Ruth Rousey Beck was her special classmate and best friend for over 75 years, and they had recently discussed plans for the upcoming class reunion. Frances and Ruth shared a double ceremony when they wed their husbands on June 29, 1946. Frances and John were married for 68 years, establishing homes in Honea Path, SC, Bristol, TN, Shelby, NC, and retired in Anderson, SC. They traveled all over the United States and she especially loved Hawaii. They camped at lakes, splashed in the ocean, and enjoyed trips that included music and good food. She worked as a homemaker and buyer for the shoe department of Gallant-Belk. Frances was an accomplished seamstress and dressed her two daughters in her hand-crafted creations. She often designed garments and used newspaper to make her patterns. She used her talent to sew draperies and decorate her home. She became accomplished in creating wreaths and baskets and enjoyed contributing to her church bazaar each year. She also loved to work with her flowers in the yard and feed the birds that visited there. She was a faithful member of Trinity United Methodist Church. She is survived by two devoted daughters, Vicki McCollum Holliday of Greenwood, SC, and Janice McCollum-Pruitt of Anderson, SC; her loving granddaughters, Christy Holliday Greer (Alex) of Easley, SC, Brianne Holliday Clark (Barry) of Augusta, GA, and Courtney Pruitt Davis (Alan) of Commerce, GA; great-grandchildren, Hadley Greer, Lexi Greer, John Ryan Davis and Braeleigh Davis; brothers, Melvin Baskins and Joe Baskins of Franklin County, GA; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, Frances was preceded in death by two sisters, Leona Chappell and Nellie Outzs; and six brothers, Ellis, Ralph, Lloyd, J.C., Troy, and Leonard Baskins. A funeral service to honor and celebrate the life of Mrs. McCollum will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2015, at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of The McDougald Funeral Home, with Reverend Mary Teasley officiating. Entombment will follow at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum. The family is at the residence and received friends at The McDougald Funeral Home on Friday, August 21, 2015, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Contributions in memory of Mrs. McCollum may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621. A message of condolence may be sent by visiting www.mcdougaldfuneralhome.com. The McDougald Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Anderson.


This obituary was originally published in The Index-Journal (Greenwood, SC).