Frankie Jean Douglas

Frankie J. Douglas was born to Oscar Lee and Adeline Stanback on August 12, 1941. On the evening of February 2, 2017, the Lord called His faithful servant home. Funeral Services will be conducted at 12:00 P.M., Saturday, February 11, 2017 in the Christ Church of Brownsville with burial to follow in the Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, February 10, 2017 from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. in the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home. Frankie Douglas was a strong, loving soul who believed deeply in Jesus and His power to save. This faith was put to the test many times in her 75 years. The most recent was her 2016 7-month battle with health issues. She was deathly ill from the end of May until July when she gained the upper hand and recovered well to the shock of many doctors and nurses. She did this a lot! She pressed on, yet believing God for a full recovery. And that is what He did! Healing her to the point where she was able to return home in Brownsville, TN. She was so excited to be able to do the things she loved: going to church, shopping, working in the community, and keeping her grandbabies. In fact, the day she died, she spent it doing what she loved most: driving to Jackson, TN with her “favorite” daughter Terra for a day of shopping and eating. Frankie also had another great passion: the loving and caring for children. Even as a young girl, she was her neighborhood’s reliable babysitter and kid whisperer! It is hard to believe but she never wanted children of her own. This all changed when she met and married the handsome six feet two inches tall William Clarence Douglas of Stanton, TN in 1960. He preceded her in death in 2002 after forty-two years of marriage. Within two years of marriage, she gave birth to their first son, Johnny Clarence Douglas. Four more babies later and the inclusion of a niece and nephew, which they raised as their own, she was convinced-Mothering was her calling and life’s work! So much so that at age 58 and having successfully raised and launched seven children, she applied to become a foster parent. She opened her home to six children (yes-all at the same time). After much prayer and caring for these children, she adopted four of them as two had returned to other families. Frankie accepted Jesus at an early age at First Baptist Church and remained faithful and active until she moved her membership to Christ Church in 2007. Frankie was an active member of Christ Church in Brownsville. She found great joy to serve wherever she was needed. She often spoke very highly of her pastor and church family. She was also active in her local community serving as Treasurer of the Loving Home, Heart and Hands Parent Resource Association. She was on the Community Advisory Board, Foster Adoption Caregiver Association, the State of Tennessee Foster and Adoption Association, member of the Dunbar-HCT Carver Alumni, and the Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years: William C. Douglas, her parents: Oscar Lee and Adeline Stanback, two sisters: Evelyn Blair and Patty Ruth Fuller. Frankie leaves to cherish her memories 11 children, Johnny Douglas(Leisa), Eddie Douglas (Diane), Dortheen Wade (David), Tyrice Cartwright (Richard, Jr.), Keauna Cheers (Christopher), Charles Morton, Melissa Bond, Cortrez Douglas, Sedarious Douglas, Jaylon Douglas, and Terra Faith Douglas. 15 grandchildren: Kybric, Mario, Airreal, Brandon, Jamie, Justin, Eddie Jr. (deceased), Porsche, Adrian, Kaitlyn, Raymond, K’lyla, Grace Elizabeth, Trinity, Richard, III and in May 2017(Lil’ Frankie). She also has 10 great grandkids, a surviving sister Lavern Stanback of St. Louis, MO and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She will be missed but never forgotten! In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The Dave Thomas Foundation of Adoption at https://davethomasfoundation.org/donate