Obituary of Pastor Frances E. Monroe

Frances Woods was born in Hamilton, Louisiana on May 22, 1931. She was raised in Bay Minette Alabama until age 16 when she moved to Pensacola Florida. There she worked and learned skills as a chef. It was through those skills that she earned the opportunity to leave the South with an organization that migrated her to NYC. At which time she adopted the last name of English. A brand new start.

For several years she worked as a chef in several restaurants and hotels in NYC. In May of 1965 she met and married Willie J. Monroe. Out of that Union was born Linda Diane Monroe and Marilyn Monroe (Evans). She joined the St. John’s Baptist Church in Inwood, N.Y where she served for 20 years singing on the Gospel Chorus, working as a Missionary, and serving on the hospitality committee. In fashion as the caregiver she always was, she trained as a Certified Nursing Assistant and worked for almost 20 years until she was injured on the job and retired early.

 
Frances Monroe was a caregiver at heart. She always had a kind word, or a stern one and a hot meal to anyone who needed it. She would often bring less fortunate children home and bathe them, feed them, fix their hair, give them clothes, love and Jesus. She answered the call to preach in 1983 and was licensed as an Evangelist. She preached and taught whenever given opportunity. In 2013 she joined Kingdom Minded Ministries where Pastor Frederick O’ Bair serves as Pastor. In July 2014 she was ordained by Pastor O’ Bair. She served faithfully as the Assistant Pastor and Church Mother she went home to be with the Lord. 

She always wanted to get her GED and in 2016, at 84 years old she decided to go back to school and took classes 3 times per week at the Queens Public Library for 5 years. She decided to stop attending whenever the shutdown forced them to continue classes virtually. She studied long and hard and we are very proud of her. 

Frances loved her family with all of her heart. Family was the most important thing in the world to her until the day her soul was set at rest on January 19, 2022. She was a strong Godly woman who never met a stranger, and an advocate for the weak. She will be sorely missed by all who truly knew her. 

She is survived by her daughter Marilyn Evans, her Son in the Spirit Frederick O’ Bair; her Granddaughters Brittany Evans, Lorie Monroe, Cherie Monroe and Crystal Monroe; Great Grandson Amir Evans; three sisters Pearlie Nelson, Mary Davis, and Bessie Davis; and two brothers Walter Bell and Herman Bell; and a host of aunts, uncles, Neice’s, cousins and friends. 

She was proceeded in death by her daughter Linda Diane Monroe, Granddaughter Pauline Evans, Granddaughter Wendy Monroe, Sisters Verna Nelson, Dempsie Trammell, Helen Burnett Patry Watts; and one brother David Woods.

CARDS CAN BE SENT TO:
Marilyn Evans
506 Liberty Boulevard 
Locust Grove, VA 22508