Frances Wakefield Mendenhall

Frances Clayton Wakefield Mendenhall, 96, of Siler City, passed away Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

Mrs. Mendenhall was born in Greensboro on May 30, 1926, the only child of Thomas Henry and Mae McPherson Wakefield. She spent her childhood years living in Greensboro and Los Angeles, California. She moved to Siler City in 1942 and attended Siler City High School for 1 year before graduating. On January 25, 1947 she married the love of her life, Ivan. She was an office manager at Chatham Grocery Company for over 30 years. Frances was a member of Piney Grove Methodist Church, where she held numerous offices. She was the oldest member, and a member of the adult Sunday School Class and was responsible for the annual fried chicken supper. Quilting was one of Mrs. Mendenhall’s passions, she was a member of the NC Quilters Association. She was the creator of many quilts to be auctioned off at the yearly Harvest Auction at Piney Grove Methodist Church. She attended many quilting workshops and events, even going as far away as Houston, Texas. Her two favorite things in life were going Monday morning quilting with “the girls” and sitting on the front porch of her beach house on Oak Island.

In addition to her parents, Frances is preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Ivan B. Mendenhall.

She is survived by her son, Larry Mendenhall and wife, Dottie of Greensboro; daughter, Cindy Mendenhall Davis of Siler City; grandchildren, Scott Mendenhall and wife Kelly of Greensboro, Mark Mendenhall and wife Beth of Wilmington, Mitchell Davis and Erin Poe of Siler City; great grandchildren, Piper and Jack Thomas Mendenhall, Chloe and Keegan Mendenhall, and Adelyn and Ember Davis; and special neighbors Fred and Janet Langley.

Frances will lie in repose on Sunday, April 2, 2023 from 1:00PM – 5:00 PM. A funeral service will be held on Monday, April 3, 2023 at 3:00PM at Piney Grove Methodist Church, with Rev. Parker Coppock officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Piney Grove Methodist Church.

Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is assisting the Mendenhall family.

Online condolences may be made at www.smithbucknerfh.com