Frances Rawlings

PASTOR FRANCES MARIE RAWLINGS was born on Saturday, April 10, 1937, to Katie Stephen Newsome and Eldridge Newsome in Southampton, VA. Pastor Rawlings received her education in Southampton Public Schools. Pastor Rawlings married Johnie Rawlings Sr. on August 1, 1953. Out of their union, they conceived 7 children together. Pastor Rawlings moved to Baltimore, MD, in 1961. Pastor Rawlings joined True Light Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ on August 26, 1962. By the 1970s, Pastor Rawlings became a single mother raising 7 children the best way she knew how. Pastor Rawlings cared for and helped raise other children who weren’t her own, but she treated them like they were hers. Pastor Rawlings Loved the Kids, and they loved her right back. Pastor Rawlings received her Ministry license certificate on September 14, 1966. Pastor Rawlings had many positions in the church, such as the secretary and treasurer. Pastor Rawlings was well organized, and she loved working towards helping the ministry grow. But her most significant accomplishment was becoming the Pastor of True Light Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ in 2013. Pastor Rawlings helped raise her grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Pastor Rawlings was always someone you could call anytime, night or day!!! Pastor Rawlings was always there when you needed her and would help if she could!!! Pastor Rawlings was the Sun and Star of her family, and she will be Tremendously Missed by Us All!!! Pastor Frances Rawlings was preceded in death by her parents, Katie Stephen-Newsome and Eldridge Newsome; three sisters, Alma Pope, Marion Macklin, and Virginia Hargrove; one daughter, Jean Rawlings; two grandchildren, Keira Dickson and Thomas Rawlings Jr.; and two great-grandchildren, Richard Collins III and Ric’shard Collins. Pastor Rawlings leaves to cherish her memory and continue her legacy: four daughters and two sons, Jeannette Rawlings, Doris Rawlings, Johnie Rawlings Jr., Thomas Rawlings Sr. (Temitape Rawlings), Alice Rawlings, and Ruth Rawlings-Johnson (Leroy Johnson); two daughters-in-love, Gloria Dukes and Sheila Jefferson; son-in-love, Michael Cropper Sr.; goddaughter, Mary Carter; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives, her True Light Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ family, and other great people she met along the way.

Tributes

Frances Rawlings

April 10, 1937 - November 5, 2023