Frances Daniel O'Brien

Frances Daniel O’Brien, 84, was called home to be with her Lord on Thursday, March 4th, 2021. She was a resident of Franklin Manor Memory Care Center in Youngsville, NC. There, she managed to provide much laughter and entertainment to her caregivers and fellow residents—in Frances’ usual jokester style! She will be remembered with fondness and love as the mother, sister, friend, and former educator that we will forever hold in our hearts.

Frances was born in Oxford, North Carolina to her parents, Armie and Mabel Daniel on June 11, 1936. After high school, she set her sights on the big city of Raleigh, where there, she would meet some of her dearest lifelong friends and create a lifetime of memories. She worked as a telephone operator for several years before settling back down in Stovall, NC with the “hometown boy” who stole her heart. She gladly traded “city life” for the opportunity to build a life with him! She married Richard, “Dickie” O’Brien in the summer of 1966. They would enjoy only 12 short years together before he was called home, but she held close his memory, and to the joy in knowing they’d be together again. That beloved reunion took place on Thursday, March 4, 2021.

Frances was a member of the Stovall community for many years where she taught as an assistant at Stovall Shaw Elementary until her retirement in 1996. There, she would help nurture and shape the lives of many students, an accomplishment she was so very proud of, as her love for children was great. Before that role, she was first known around the town as the “Avon Lady”. Her love for selling and her outgoing personality made her very successful, and very popular with the beautiful ladies of Stovall! In addition, she also made contributions to her community as a longtime member of Stovall Baptist Church, where she involved herself with activities for children and youth.

Frances had several hobbies—her love for flowers occupied her time in spring and summer. She was especially proud of her rose garden. She loved the beach and the beauty of the ocean. Her home was filled with cross-stitch creations from her crafty hands. Her collections of antique furniture and dolls were also her pride and joy. Frances had a love for animals, and no dog was ever loved any more than her precious golden retriever, Chelsea. But anyone who knew Frances would say that her greatest love—her greatest joy— was being a mother to her only daughter, Joanna.

Frances is survived by her daughter, Joanna O’Brien Dean and her husband, Larry, of Raleigh; a sister, Ann Daniel Patterson, of Goldsboro; a brother, Tommy Daniel, and his wife Delores, of Oxford; a step-granddaughter, Jackie Dean, of Shelbyville, Tennessee; a sister-in-law, Evelyn Wall, of Maryland, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dickie O’Brien.

A celebration of her life will be held at a graveside memorial service on Sunday, March 7, at 2:00 PM at the Stovall City Cemetery . Reverend Dr. Randy Bridges of Rolesville Baptist Church will be officiating.

For everyone’s safety, we ask that you wear masks and practice social distancing at the service. Memorials in Frances’ honor can be made to a charity of one’s choosing, to a local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, or to the Granville County Animal Shelter.

The family would like to thank the staff, both past and present, of Franklin Manor Memory Care in Youngsville, for their care of “Miss Fran” over the past four years. Thank you for being like family.

The family is being assisted by Gentry-Newell & Vaughan Funeral Home.