Frances Marie Walker Hunter

Frances Marie Walker Hunter, 80, passed away early Monday morning, July 29, at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center. 

Born on January 14, 1944 in Americus, Georgia, she was the daughter of the late Ulys and Lucile Walker. Mrs. Marie served 34 years as a nurse for the Webster County Primary Care Center and Health Department. She was a Registered Nurse (RN), Public Health Nurse (PHN), and a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). She also served as an EMT (#591) for 37 years, and was one of the founders of the Emergency Medical Services in Webster County, started in 1970. Mrs. Marie also had the unique honor of being in the first group selected for the expanded role for nursing as a nurse practitioner. Along with her dedication to serving her community as a nurse, Mrs. Marie established and invested in a program to assist indigent with medical expenses.

Many people who knew her also fondly remember her for her yearly Christmas cards, sending nearly 350 every single year, taking the time to hand write a personal note in each one. Mrs. Marie lived to serve and help others, and touched the lives of many. Several of these instances remain only between her and those she helped out of the goodness of her heart. 

She is survived by her children, LaDona Hunter, Carlton Hunter and his wife Becky, and Karen Cochran.; her brother, Thomas Walker; her grandchildren, Jordyn Hunter, Jaelyn Hunter, Keri Cochran, and Brooke Dart; her sisters-in-law, Sandy Hunter and Maxine Hunter, as well as several great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Hunter; her son, Clyde “Pete” Hunter Jr; her sisters, Lorene Tindol and Betty Jean Brown; and her brother, Frank Walker, her sisters-in-law, Betty Hunter, Clara Day, Jerri Walker, and Barbara Jean Walker; and her brothers-in-law, Charles Hunter, Larry Hunter, Edward Hunter, Paul Day, Jack Tindol, and Lonnie Brown.

The family will receive friends for a visitation on Friday, August 2, from 6:00PM to 8:00PM in the chapel of Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee Street. 

A funeral service will be held at Preston Baptist Church on Saturday, August 3, beginning at 11:00AM. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00AM to 10:50AM, after which the family will come together for a brief prayer before the service begins. Burial will follow the service at Preston City Cemetery.

The following men have been asked to serve as pallbearers: Darrell Holbrook, Andy Payne, Scott Hudson, Tanner Sizemore, Phillip Jones, Darryl Jones, and Stan Fussell. 

Webster County Fire and EMS will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.

To sign our online guestbook and express your condolences to the family, please visit www.hancockfuneralhomeinc.com 

Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St., is honored to be entrusted with these arrangements for Mrs. Frances Marie Hunter.