Mrs. Frances Blaine

Frances Blaine, age 84, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 29, 2022, at home in Acworth, Georgia. She was surrounded by a host of family and friends during the last hours of her life. She was born November 25, 1937, in South Orange NJ to Elijah and Melissa Griffin. She married the love of her life, Richard Ellis Blaine, after a long courtship on November 19, 1955, who preceded her in death in 1991. They met at 11 years old. From that union, five children were born.

Frances was a stay-at-home spouse until her children all went to middle school. After that she was employed by Saks Fifth Avenue in Millburn, NJ for 30 years. Upon her retirement and the death of her husband, she built her dream house Simpsonville, SC. She lived there with her sister for 12 years. While in South Carolina she worked for the school system in Simpsonville. Upon her second retirement, she moved to Acworth, Georgia.

Frances was an excellent cook. She was one of the best black Italian cooks you will ever meet. She learned how to cook Italian food from her neighbor when she first moved to Piscataway, NJ. She was also a talented baker. her 7- up cake was legendary. She enjoyed crafting and bowling. She always insisted upon changing her curtains and bedspreads with every season. She loved for her home to look fresh all year long. Frances married and had children young. As such, she did not have a chance to continue her education. She always put an emphasis on the importance of education. She did eventually return to school and graduated from college in 1976 along with her oldest daughter. She loved to give thoughtful and personal gifts. She would take hours to make sure the gifts were special, meaningful, and just right.  Frances loved spending time with her family.  The yearly family vacations to the beach were one of her favorite events.  If we weren’t on vacation, she just loved for us to come to her house cook, eat, talk trash, and hang out for hours.  When we were all about to go home, she would ask, when you coming back?   She was quite a fashion icon.  Her many years working at Saks Fifth Avenue gave her access to some of the finest clothes.  She was always a very classy dresser. Her beautiful silver hair become one of her trademarks.  She always kept it styled. Between her clothes and hair, she was a true fashionista. Frances had a strong personality and had no problem telling you what she thought. He directness and kindness were two of her most memorable traits. 

Frances is survived by her two sisters, Audrey Hatcher of Marietta Georgia, Felicia Philip of Union City Georgia, her brother, Barrett Griffin of New Jersey; her two daughters, Karen and her husband Walter Andrews of Atlanta Georgia and Robyn Major of Acworth Georgia; her two sons, Richard Blaine of Simpsonville, South Carolina and Jeffery Blaine of Acworth Georgia; grandchildren, Richard Blaine and wife Kadian of Dallas Georgia, Morghan Tanner of Atlanta Georgia, Shelby Bridges and husband Lemar of Hiram Georgia, Crystal Estrada and husband Juan of Sanford North Carolina, Cheryl Garrison and husband Mac of Erwin, North Carolina, Jordan Blaine of Sanford North Carolina, Jeffrey Blaine of Spring Lake North Carolina, Alexis Blaine of Simpsonville South Carolina, and Alicia Hockett of Atlanta Georgia. She has nine great grandchildren, Ari Estrada, Eli Blaine, Eden Blaine, Yazmin Gilmore, Masen Tanner, Trenton Byrd, Chelsea Byrd, Bailee Whitener and Amias Estrada will be here in August. In addition, she has a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. All of these she loved and touched deeply. She was proceeded in death by her husband Richard Blaine and son Derrick Blaine.

For Mom…….

You can shed tears that she is gone
or you can smile because she has lived
You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she’s gone
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
or you can do what she’d want:
smile,
open your eyes,
love
and go on.

Hanley-Shelton Funeral Directors, Marietta. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mrs. Frances Blaine, please visit our floral store.