Obituary of Frances Evans Popham

Frances Evans Popham, of Chattanooga, TN, passed away on January 26, 2017 at the age of 98. Frances was born on September 15, 1918 in Fayetteville, Tennessee to Giles L. and Georgia May Evans. Her family moved to Nashville, TN in 1925, where she attended Hume-Fogg High School. She received a B.A. degree from Vanderbilt University and a degree in library science from George Peabody College for Teachers. Upon completing her education, she worked for a library in Greeneville, SC before returning to Nashville where she worked for American Airlines. There she met John N. Popham, III, at the time the Southern Regional Correspondent for the New York Times. They married in Nashville in 1948 and then made Lookout Mountain, GA their home. Her husband continued to work for the New York Times from Chattanooga before becoming the Managing Editor of The Chattanooga Times in 1958, a position he held until his retirement in 1977. Frances was a resident of Lookout Mountain for 60 years, until moving to Alexian Grove at Asbury Oak in Chattanooga where she lived at the time of her death. While residing on the mountain, she attended Our Lady of the Mount Catholic with her husband and children. An avid reader, Frances worked at the reference desk of the Chattanooga Public Library for almost 25 years until her retirement in 1988. She was preceded in death by her husband, John, and her four brothers Giles L. Evans, Jr., James Clarence Evans, William B. Evans and George K. Evans. She is survived by her daughter, Hilary, of Atlanta, GA and son John (Debra), of Nashville ; grandchildren Nick Popham and Abby Popham, both of Nashville; sister –in-law Corrine Evans; and nephews Trevor (Stefanee) Evans, Winston (Kaye) Evans, George (Christian) Evans and Brian (Mary Lee) Evans and nieces Marjorie (Eliseo) Rios, Carol Evans and Diane Evans. The family wishes to express their gratitude to Wanda Gail and caregivers Contessa, Phyllis, Nicole and Wilma from United Home Health of Chattanooga for the kindness, attention and care they provided to Frances during the later years of her life. The family would also like to thank the staff and residents of Alexian Grove for their attention and kindness during the time she resided there and to Hospice of Chattanooga for their caring support during her last few months. Visitation will be held at Wann Funeral Home from 11:30 AM- 1:30 PM on Tuesday, January 31, 2017. Graveside services and interment will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday in Chattanooga National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Chattanooga Public Library, Ladies of Charity, Hospice of Chattanooga, or a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Wann Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 4000 Tennessee Avenue, Chattanooga, TN, 37409, (423) 821-7553.