Frances Gillis Dinkins died Saturday, October 3, 2015 in FirstHealth Hospital-Hoke Campus at the age of 90.
She was born in Fayetteville on September 20, 1925 to the late William and Carrie Belle Bethea Gillis. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frederic "Fred" R. Dinkins; her sons, Williams Frederick "Rick" Dinkins, and John Gillis Dinkins; and her brother, Eugene "Gene" Gilli. She was a member of Galatia Presbyterian Church. She was a graduate of Montreat Anderson Junior College and Flora Macdonald College in Red Springs. She received her master's degree from Union Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. She taught at Thornville Orphanage in Clinton, South Carolina. After marrying her husband, Fred, they moved to Brazil where they served as missionaries for more than 35 years.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Ruth Dinkins of Fayetteville; her brothers, Bill Gillis and his wife Grace of Fayetteville, and Johnny Gillis and his wife, Barbara of Fayetteville; her daughter-in-law, Mary Adams Dinkins of Mebane; two step-granddaughters, Wendy Ray and Candida Nance; and five step-great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 in the parlor at Galatia Presbyterian Church.
The funeral will begin in the sanctuary of the church at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Sanders Read and Evangelist Trinidad Martinez Solis officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Christian Education Department of the Edward Lane Bible Institute (IBEL) C/O Galatia Presbyterian Church, 8800 Galatia Church Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28304.
Care of the family is entrusted to Crumpler Funeral Home-Raeford.