Mrs. Frances Laura Foster Winburn, age 72, died on January 26th, 2024, at her daughter’s house in Hull, GA. A visitation will be held from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM on February 3rd, 2024, with a celebration of life service held at 2:00 PM on February 3, at Southerland Funeral Chapel, with Rev. Stephen Upchurch officiating.
Mrs. Frances Laura Foster Winburn, age 72, died on January 26th, 2024, at her daughter’s house in Hull, GA. A visitation will be held from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM on February 3rd, 2024, with a celebration of life service held at 2:00 PM on February 3, at Southerland Funeral Chapel, with Rev. Stephen Upchurch officiating.
Frances was born and raised in Eastman, GA, and traveled with her civil service family to England, France, and Germany, before returning to Eastman. She was a 1969 graduate of Dodge County High School and then attended Middle Georgia College in Cochran. While attending Middle Georgia College she met her future husband George Lewis Winburn, and married on September 11, 1971, in Eastman. They later moved to Athens, GA, where she attended Athens Technical College and earned a nursing degree as an LPN. She started out working at Athens Regional as a Ward Secretary for 12 years, then became a nurse at Heritage Nursing Home, and later on she did private duty nursing. In these several years of working, she and Lewis also started their own family, having their firstborn (Marie Daniel) in 1976, and their second born (Joanna Winburn) in 1981.
Frances, and her youngest daughter, later returned to her hometown, after the passing of her beloved husband, and resided there for several years. During her busy life, she enjoyed crafts, like painting Christmas village houses and other figurines, and sewing, focusing her work on baby blankets for newborns at Dodge County Hospital. She also loved getting down and dirty with her gardening, mostly with her tomato plants. She also enjoyed baking homemade sour cream pound cakes and fruit cake cookies. Along with making relishes, jams, and jellies, most known for her watermelon jelly.
Frances was the daughter of the late Johnnie Oline Ryals Foster-Conner and Harold Leigh Foster and was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, George Lewis Winburn, brother David Conner Jr., and her niece, Zoie Smith Holt.
She is survived by her Daughters - Marie Elizabeth Winburn Daniel (Stephen) and Joanna Leigh Winburn, both of Hull, GA; Adopted Daughter - Mary Cassie Folsom of Athens, GA; Granddaughters - Joni Elizabeth Woods of Athens, GA, Stephanie Hope Daniel, and Briannah Rea Ellis-Daniel (Lessely) of Hull, GA; Sisters - Zandra Kaye Foster Smith (Tim) of Eastman, GA, and Joni Sue Foster Moore (David) of Alamo, GA, Carol Conner Lowery (Wendell) of Waycross, GA, and Cindy Conner Bearden (Jesse) of Eastman, GA, Cathy Conner Clark (Keith) of Eastman, GA; Niece and Nephew - Chelsea Jordan Moore Upchurch (Stephen) and David (Chip) R Moore III (Leanne); Great Nieces and Nephews - Zory Williams, Halie Williams, Daniel Upchurch, Katherine Upchurch, and Emma Rose Moore; Along with numerous extended family members and friends
In Lieu of Flowers, the family requests contributions to the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, or Faithful Hearts Animal Shelter in memory of Frances. The family may be contacted at the residence of Zandra and Tim Smith, 2960 Hawkinsville Hwy., Eastman, GA 31023.
Locally owned and operated, Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home, has been "A Tradition of Trust" to Eastman, Dodge County and Middle Georgia for over 65 years.