Mary Frances Brewer Gragg, 83, passed away peacefully at her home on January 25, 2018.  Frances lived in Murfreesboro, Tennessee near her daughter for the past three years. Prior to that she was a lifelong resident of Newland, North Carolina.  She was proud to tell her Tennessee friends about Avery County and the beautiful view of the mountains from her home on Hickory Nut Gap.

Frances was born on December 9, 1934 to the late Leonard Wilson Brewer and Mae Potter Brewer of the Cow Camp community in Newland. She married Phillip Mack Gragg, also of Newland, in 1954 while he was on leave from the U.S. Navy.

Frances was preceded in death by her husband, Phillip in 1994.  Frances leaves to cherish her memory two loving daughters, Donna Holtsclaw and husband David of Mills River, North Carolina and Andrea Stewart and husband Bill of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; three grandchilden, Jenny Holtsclaw-Cook and husband Mike, Angus Stewart and Phoebe Stewart; two great grandchilden, Sarah Holtsclaw and Jesse Cook; and a brother, Gene Brewer and wife Kay of Newland.

Frances was a member of the First Baptist Church of Newland for more than 60 years.  She was involved in Vacation Bible School when her daughters were young and taught or co-taught the Dorcus Sunday Schoool class for many years. She was also a charter member of Fletcher Presbyterian Church on Cow Camp Road in Newland.  Frances attended Lees McRae College after graduating as Valedictorian from Newland High School. She worked as a Secretary for the State of North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts with Juvenile Counseling Services for 23 years, retiring in 1998.  Frances was a skilled seamstress and loved to sew clothing for her daugthers and herself. She was a wonderful cook and loved to host big family meals for holidays. Frances also loved to garden and can fruits and vegetables, as well as grow beautiful indoor and outdoor plants.

Services for Mrs. Gragg will be held at 2:00 pm Sunday, January 28, 2018 at First Baptist Church of Newland.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will follow in the Hughes Cemetery in Squirrel Creek.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hughes Cemetery Fund c/o L. Green, 124 Maple Lane, Newland, NC 28657; First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 485 Newland, NC 28657; or the Fletcher Presbyterian Church c/o R. Wise, P.O. Box 493 Newland, NC 28657. The family wishes to thank Sunnington Assisted Living and Kindred Hospice, both of Murfreesboro for their loving care for Frances.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Woodfin Memorial Chapel, Murfreesboro.