Francena Parker Cole

Francena Parker Cole, 96, passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 1st, at the First Health Hospice House. Mrs. Cole was born on July 14, 1928, in Bangor, Maine to the late Herbert L. Parker, Sr. and Evelyn Leighton Parker.

Francena moved to Sanford when she was sixteen to work at her older brother’s restaurant. It was there that she met her future husband, Rupert. They married in 1946 and had two daughters, Pam and Carol.

She retired in 1987 from the North Carolina Services for the Blind. She began her career at the Lee County Health Department and later worked at the Department of Social Services.

Francena was a faithful member of Grace Chapel Church and a founding member of the Annie Belle Register Missionary Society.

Francena was a long time member of the American Legion Auxiliary Department of NC, Post #382 in Sanford. She held various positions at the local level, and in 1983-1984 served as State Department President. After her retirement she continued her support of veterans by volunteering for several years at the VA Medical Center in Fayetteville. She also spent many hours as a volunteer at the Helping Hand Clinic in Sanford.

Francena loved to travel; she especially enjoyed several cruises with her nephew Fred and his wife, Lynn. She enjoyed beach trips with her family and casino trips with her friends. The time spent with her family was her greatest pleasure.

In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her husband, Rupert S. Cole, her brothers Maurice, Kenneth and Herbert, Jr., and her great-grandson, Jacob McNeill. She is survived by her daughters Pamela Stephens and her husband, Bill, and Carol Hudson and her husband, Steve; three grandchildren – Tracy McNeill and her husband, Todd, Cole Stephens and his wife, Lisa, and Parker Hudson. She was also the proud great grandmother of Gavin McNeill and his fiancé, Briana Wieking, Olivia Stephens and Ivy Stephens and three special nieces and a nephew, Cindy Capps, Fred Parker and Barbie Murphy.

Francena loved life and all it had to offer, and she lived all of her 96 years to the fullest with gratitude and joy.

The family would like to give special thanks to her caregiver, Gidget Pulley, for the wonderful care she provided and to FirstHealth Hospice for their compassionate care during her final days.

A celebration of Francena’s life will be held on Friday, April 4, 2025 at Rogers Pickard Funeral Home with visitation from 2-3 pm, service beginning at 3 pm, with Pastor Mike Tannenbaum officiating. There will be a private family burial.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to honor Francena, please make a donation to Pastor/Chaplain Mike Tannenbaum to use in his ministry to widows, widowers and veterans. You may make a check payable to Mike Tannenbaum and mail it to him at 38 Indian Trail, Sanford, NC 27332.