Frankye Joyce Holland-Ayeh

Frankye Joyce Holland-Ayeh was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina on July 3, 1938. She was the first child of Charles and Lucy B. Holland. She received her early education at Hampton City Schools, graduating from George P. Phenix High School in Hampton, Virginia in 1956. She attended Howard University in Washington, DC for three years, and then transferring to Bowie State College, where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Sociology. She continued her education at Johns Hopkins University where she obtained a Masters degree in Humanities in Education. Frankye then met and fell in love with Nathan Franco Ribeiro-Ayeh, Jr. They married in 1959 and from this union two children were born, Nathan Franco Ribeiro-Ayeh, III and Brenda Georgianna Gigi Ayeh-Robertson. They later divorced but remained close friends. The family relocated from Hampton, Virginia to Columbia, Maryland, where Frankye became a teacher in the Howard County Public School System. She also worked at the General Electric Plant in Columbia. Following her retirement from the Howard County Public School System in June 2000, she began to teach for the Baltimore City Public School System for another two years. She loved education so much that she was an Adjunct Professor at Essex Community College and Baltimore City Community College. She was a mentor teacher at the University of Maryland Baltimore County Urban Studies Program. She enjoyed working with students young and old. Frankye passed away at 2 pm on Wednesday, March 30 after a brief illness. She is survived by her son Franco, III; her daughter, Gigi Ayeh-Robertson; two granddaughters, Sosha N'dea and Asia Simone; one sister, Phyllis Holland-James of Hampton, Virginia; one brother-in-law, Rev. Jodie A. James; one cousin, Benjamin L. Brokenburr, who grew up with her like a brother; two aunts, Myrtle Brokenburr and Ethel Brokenburr; and numerous cousins, other relatives and many more friends. Frankye was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Rho Xi Omega Chapter of Baltimore, Maryland. Her passions were writing poetry, music, reading, eating crabs, and her lovely grandchildren. She joined Locust United Methodist Church in Columbia Maryland in 1999. She sang in the Voices of Praise Choir, wrote poetry for the Church newsletter and the Messenger. She had many many friends. She lived her life traveling, simply, and with much joy. Her family, her church Locust United Methodist Church and her community will miss her. She was always so grateful for the visits from her Pastors, Rev. Sawyer and Rev. Hines. May she rest in perfect peace.

Tributes

Frankye Joyce Holland-Ayeh

July 3, 1938 - March 30, 2005