Frances "Fran" E. Pickett, 74, of Clinton, left this earth to join her heavenly Father on Monday, March 6, 2017. Fran, born on March 5, 1943, in Utica, Mississippi, was the youngest of eight children of Eva Reed Pickett and Fred Newman Pickett, Sr. She graduated from Utica High School, Hinds Community College and Mississippi College. Fran loved sports and after graduating from Mississippi College, she was the girls' physical education teacher and basketball coach at Clinton Jr. High. She then went on to work as manager at Camp Garaywa in Clinton and retired from the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. Fran was also very involved with the Woman's Missionary Union. For many years, Fran was a member of Morrison Heights Baptist Church before moving her membership to Pineview Baptist Church, where she served as Church Treasurer for several years. As a young woman, Fran spent much time hunting, fishing and traveling. Her love for the Lord took her to different countries visiting with various missionaries. She also enjoyed spending time with her sisters and friends and attending events of her many nieces and nephews. She was a loyal supporter of Hinds Community College and loved helping young people further their education.
Fran was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Fred Newman Pickett, Jr. and Jim Buck Pickett, Sr., and sister Inis Pickett Houlihan. She is survived by sisters Marian Pickett Carmichael, Grace Pickett Long (Jimmy), Nell Ann Pickett, Jane Pickett Harrell and honorary Pickett sister and closest friend, Patricia "Trish" Simmons, along with many beloved nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Tuesday, March 7, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in Clinton. A Service of Celebration will be held on Wednesday at Pineview Baptist Church in Clinton at 11:00 a.m., with visitation starting at 10:00. Burial will be at Bear Creek Cemetery in Utica, Mississippi at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hinds Community College Development Foundation for the Frances E. Pickett Scholarship, to the Mississippi Baptist Foundation for the Fran Pickett Camp Garaywa Scholarship Trust Fund or to the Pineview Baptist Church Mission Fund.