Mrs. Frankie Lee Funches

Frankie Lee Funches was born in Chatham, Mississippi, on May 17, of a very special year. Frankie, affectionately known to her siblinps as "E ", was the second oldest of five children born to Frank and Sophie Henry. She was educated at Leota School in Leota, Mississippi, and Mary Holmes Colleqe in West Point, Mississippi. In the late 30's, Frankie united in marriage to Clarence Lewis Funches, Sr., and to this union thirteen beautiful children were born whom Frankie and Clarence adored equally. Though they were many, Frankie had a way of making each of her children feel special. One of her prayers was that she would live Iong enough to raise her children. As a child and young adult, Frankie attended Guiding Star Baptist Church with her mother; however, Frankie always felt that "There was more". After the birth of her ninth child, Frankie heard about a revival being conducted at a small, Pentecostal church in the countryside, The Church of God, Egypt, Mississippi. Frankie attended this revival where she was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. This experience changed her life eternally. Later, the family relocated to Hollandale, Mississippi, where she joined The Church of God of Hollandale, under the late Pastor T.J. Bell and Bishop Nathaniel Bell. She served faithfully on the pastor's aide committee, as an usher, a church mother, and assisted in cooking fellowship meals for the congregation. Frankie remained a member in good standing. A few years following the death of her husband, Mother Funches's children relocated her to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mother Funches loved her pastor and church in Mississippi and longed to return to her home in Hollandale; therefore, she never moved her membership. When visiting her family in Chicago, Mother Funches attended St. John Church of God in Christ under the leadership of her son, Reverend Dr. Frazier Funches. She also attended Portview Christian Center in Port Wasbington, Wisconsin, under the leadership of Pastor Paul Hanson and Mason Temple Church of God Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Pastor Osie Tatum,Jr. Mother Funches loved Mason Temple Church and considered it her home church away from home. After farming, Mother Funches worked ten years for Washington County Head Start in Greenville, Mississippi and ended her employment career delivering meals for a senior communty program in Holland, Mississippi. Mother Funches's passionate love for the Lord was no secret and she often spoke of Him. She kept a song on her heart and was often heard humming hymns and singing melodies. Aside from her salvation, her greatest desire was for her children to know the Lord, often quoting to them that, "no sin shall enter in." In teaching her children, Mother Funches would let them know that she would do anything for them, except "go to hell." She also had a special love for her mother. One of Mother Funches's gifts was giving of her time, money and bounty. She was an excellent cook and shared many meals with the sick and less fortunate. Her hobbies were gardening, shopping, dressing up, decorating, and going to rummage sales and flea markets, Mother Funches's transition from this life to her eternal home on Friday, November 30, 2012, was nothing short of amazing. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Sophie Henry, husband, Clarence Lewis Funches, Sr., two children, Bernice and Joseph Funches, three brothers,James (Ruby) Henry, J.D. (Bertha) Henry, Earl (Mamie) Henry, one sister, Theresa (Leonard) Crutcher. Mother Funches leaves beautiful, loving memories to six sons: Clarence "Ray" Funches,Jr., Leesville, Louisiana; Roy (Alma) Funches, Chicago, IL; Willie (Frances) Funches, Oak Park, IL; James (Opal) Funches, Brown Deer, WI; Frazier (Sarah) Funches, River Forest, IL; Elwood (Lillian) Funches, Chicago, IL; five daughters: Dorothy (Elwood - deceased) Bruce, Brown Deer, WI; Betty (Cesley - deceased) Wright; Milwaukee, WI; Desmar (Calvin) Bruce, Brown Deer, WI; Johnnie (John) Tucker, River Hills, WI; Shirley (Willie) Tucker, Milwaukee, WI; 31 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren. She also leaves Ioving memories to a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and dear friends.