Frances Elizabeth Wilson

On March 23, 1944, Frances Elizabeth Wilson was born in Baltimore, MD, the third child of the Rev. Isaac Alfonso Miller and Elizabeth Ellison Miller. “Frankie,” as she was affectionately known, spent her early years in Rocks, MD, Washington D. C., and Baltimore, where her family’s home was often the center of community gatherings and events. Together with her siblings, she traveled each summer to North Carolina where she deepened her relationships with her aunts, uncles and cousins who lived there. After completing Eastern High School in 1961, Frankie matriculated at Morgan State College,graduating in 1965 with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from Towson State College in 1970. Frankie dedicated her career to educating and supporting the youth of Baltimore through her work in the Baltimore City Public Schools, where she touched countless lives. In addition to her day job, she used her talents and skills to further help children by serving in roles such as SAT proctor, night school counselor, and college enrichment advisor at Baltimore City Community College. In 2010, she retired as a guidance counselor after 46 years of service. Frankie was a devoted wife and mother to husband “Dutch,” and sons Paul and Mark. She was a fantastic homemaker who loved entertaining. Family and friends enjoyed gathering at the Wilson home for any occasion because Frankie was an excellent cook and an exquisite hostess. Her feasts were always a beautiful celebration of life and love, and Frankie was sure to add sparkle to these events as the life of the party! Having grown up as “the preacher’s daughter,” Frankie’s devotion to God and her church fostered a spiritual strength that she exhibited throughout her life. No matter where she was, Frankie would sit in awe of God’s breathtaking sunrises and sunsets and marvel at His beautiful landscapes and flowers. In fact, working in her flower garden was a source of peace and tranquility for her year after year. With an innate affection for exploring new vistas, Frankie enjoyed traveling widely throughout the United States and Canada. For many years during their marriage, Frankie and Dutch traveled with their friends, family and specifically with their sons. Accordingly, her sons inherited her passion for adventure, traveling extensively just as she did. Invited or not, she was always willing to travel along, often reminding them that her bags were always packed. Frankie loved everyone, and everyone loved Frankie. She enjoyed deep and life-long relationships which were a source of great joy. She was an integral part of the planning of events and could always be found in the midst of the fun with a variety of people. For example, she played bridge with the Grandslammers (for over 50 years), the Double Finesse Bridge Club, SKC Bridge Club, and the Wednesday Bridge Group. She displayed a competitive edge at the bridge table. Her cunning and wit, coupled with her trust in her longtime friend and bridge partner, Edith Green, allowed Frankie to be a consistent winner both locally and nationally. Outside of bridge, she planned and attended club meetings and worked tirelessly on scholarships with the Baltimore Drifters, Inc. She loved the FUN Club and EtCetera Club and never missed a meeting or a trip with those ladies in over 25 years. And, if the aforementioned were not enough, Frankie spent time planning and attending yearly outings with the counselors group, the theater group, and the Hopkins luncheon group. In summary, Frankie lived a full and rich life! Supporting her every step of the way was her devoted husband of 55 years, Dutch. No one understood her better. His boundless love and affection, patience and understanding truly allowed her to freely pursue her life’s hopes and dreams. Since her teenage years, Dutch was always Frankie’s knight in shining armor. He was the one to help her set up for events, to find her many lost items, to care for her tenderly during illness, and to always be there when she needed him. Their bond was unbreakable. On March 30, 2018, Frankie was touched gently by an angel and quietly led into the Heavenly realm of eternal peace, leaving us with a wealth of fond memories and God’s blessings. She is preceded in death by her brother Isaac “Sonny” Miller. She leaves to cherish her memory her devoted husband, Howard Paul Wilson; two loving sons, Paul Stanford Wilson and Mark Sterling Wilson; one sister, Marie “Buddy” Otaigbe; two brothers, James “Jim” Miller (Malgorzata) and Phillip “Rocky” Miller (Cheryl); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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Frances Elizabeth Wilson

March 23, 1944 - March 30, 2018