Mary Frances Gross-Graham's Obituary
Mary Frances Gross-Graham (Carrington) (Age 70) of Fort Washington, MD
Mary Frances Carrington Gross-Graham “Frances” was born on October 25, 1946 in Clarksville, VA, to the late Edmond Roosevelt Carrington and the late Mary Overbey Carrington. Frances gave her life to Jesus at an early age and joined St. John Baptist Church in Clarksville, VA. She played the piano for the church choir and, although she had a beautiful voice, she refused to sing for an audience.
In 1961, the Carrington family re-located to Pisgah, Maryland. Frances graduated from Pomonkey High School in Indian Head, Maryland in June 1965. She began her government career immediately following high school; retiring from the D.C. Government in 1994. As Director of Youth Programs for the DC Department of Employment Services, Washington, DC had one of the largest summer youth employment programs in the nation. She went on to become the 2nd woman to serve as State Director of the DC Apprenticeship Program. Frances served as Executive Assistant to the Director of the Disabilities and Compensation Program and became Director of that program before her retirement. She and her former spouse, Thomas (Tommy) Graham, ran a highly successful trash and hauling business for almost forty years.
Frances was an avid reader, often reading well into the night because the book was “just too good to put down.” She read the Washington Post faithfully every Sunday morning from cover to cover, to include completing their challenging crossword puzzle. One of her favorite past times was going to the casinos for what she called her “down time.” She loved her family more than life and spent as much time as possible with them. In fact, she made her mission in life to speak to her sister, Alice, and her daughter, Angie daily. Frances had a generous spirit and would literally give you the shirt off her back if asked. She is possibly best known among family and friends as having an uncanny intuition and was honest to a fault. She had a love for flowers and gardening - a hobby she enjoyed as a child with her father - and took great pride in her outdoor space. She was no less fastidious in the way she presented the inside of her home. Frances was often teased about carrying a bottle of windex and a broom around the house with her.
Frances went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 13, 2016 at George Washington University Hospital, Washington, DC. She leaves to cherish her memory two children Angela Patrice Gross Graham (Anthony), and Recardo Donnell Gross (Jonnetta); grandchildren, Tiffani and Isaiah Gross, Janae Chestnut, Marquita Bridgett (James), Ashley and Quincy Graham; one great grandson, James Bridgett, II; two sisters, Alice Stewart (James) and Queen Myers (Robert); brother, Edmond R. Carrington; former spouse and loving companion, Tommy; sister-in-law, Deborah Carrington; devoted cousin Rev. Dr. Melbalenia Evans; and special girlfriend, Ruby Anderson; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her brother Charles Carrington and her niece, Tiffani Carrington.
There will be a Friends and Family Gathering, at 10:00am followed by a Memorial Service 11:00am, on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 in the Chapel of Thornton Funeral Home, P.A., 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, MD 20640.
Internment, Trinity Memorial Gardens, 3221 Mattawoman Beantown Road, Waldorf, MD 20601.
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