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Obituary For Frances T. Penn
Frances Torain Penn was born December 9, 1935 in Greensboro, North Carolina to the late Louise Torain. She departed this life on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at Beacon Place Hospice Care with her family by her side. Following in the footsteps of her beloved grandmother, Viola Torain, and aunts, “Mae” Mary Ethel Pinnix and Irene Whitsett, Frances joined Providence Baptist Church at an early age under the leadership of Rev. J.W. Tynes. Frances excelled at athletics and dancing. She was a star player on her James B. Dudley High School basketball team. She pursued her love of sports as a career and majored in physical education at North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. After graduating, she was employed as a physical education teacher in South Boston, VA, Winston-Salem, NC, Charlotte, NC and Baltimore, MD. She spent the last 14 years of her career working for the Guilford County School system and retired in 2001. The sport that Frances loved most of all was golf. She did not learn to play golf until she was in her mid-thirties, but she excelled at it and competed in many tournaments. After retiring, she joined a local golf group in Greensboro and accumulated a large collection of trophies that she had won over the years. The onset of dementia robbed her of much of her memory the last few years of her life, but she never forgot her favorite music and would dance to it whenever she had the opportunity. And, at the age of 80+, it was not unusual for her to dribble and attempt to shoot a few hoops if she was in the vicinity of a basketball goal. Surviving to cherish her memory: her caretaker and devoted daughter, Sherri Bigelow (Curtis); grandson, Bryan Penn; cousins Juliette Torain, Mark Torain (Karina), Twanna Henry (Barry), Britney Torain, Akil Torain, Christopher Torain, Dausan Torain, Leigha Torain, Elisha Torain and a host of other relatives and friends.
A public viewing will be held on Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 3:00pm - 5:00pm in the Cassie Coote-Brown Memorial Chapel of Perry J. Brown Funeral Home. A service honoring her life will be held on Sunday, August 15, 2021 at Providence Baptist Church, 1106 Tuscaloosa St, Greensboro, NC 27406. The visitation will begin at 1:00pm and the service will follow at 1:30pm. Burial Monday 10:00am Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Services Entrusted to Perry J. Brown Funeral Home (336)-272-61
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Condolences & Tributes
Add A CondolenceSherri, Cathy and I were saddened to hear of the loss of your mother. Very sweet lady and a gift to the Aggie Family.
Andre and Cathy
NC A&T State University Accounting Class of 1986
Pernel Johnson
The NC A&T State University Accounting Class of 1986 would like to bestow our condolences to our classmate Sherri (Penn) Bigelow and family. "In the Hardest Things We Do... Love Sees us Through."
We have been linked for almost 40 years with the Penn family as their residence located near A&T's campus, was our home away from home. Mrs. Penn became our Honorary Aggie Mom and was an extended loving addition to our circle of friends.
To the family, while we all may not be able to be physically present with you during this time, please know that you will remain in our thoughts and prayers. May you continue to be blessed with good health and peace.
Love,
Andre Artis Jackie (Franklin) Crittendon Stephanie (Proctor) Johnson Kim (Raynor) Jones Kenneth Owens Dmitri Stockton
Praying For Your Strength Family In This Time Of Grief 🙏🙏🙏🙏💯❤️💯
I remember Ms. Penn, we loved her when she was the supervisor at the Northeast High School Bus Lot. She was a joy to be around and would let me drive the county car to take her to different school. Golf was her sport!!! she would talk about it a lot. She was a great person to work for and always gave us routes to drive. Rest Well!
May God wrap His loving arms around you and comfort you. Sorry for your loss.
Marinda Lee Reidsville High School
Oh how I remember a young "Miss Torain" up in South Boston, VA at Mary M. Bethune High School. My mom taught there and I was beginning ninth grade. She was a great teacher and well liked by everyone. We commuted back to Greensboro most weekends and I think she did also. In later years, we worked together at Grimsley. She was a lot of fun. My deepest condolences to Sherri and family. She will be greatly missed. Yvonne Mason Patterson
Sherri, I'm so sorry for the loss of your mom. Praying God keeps you in his comforting arms and in the comfort of family and friends that surround you. -Annette Cassada
Thinking of you Sherri and family. Such a beautiful picture and lovely tribute to your mom. Thoughts and prayers to you and your family. -Anne Crutchfield
Condolences to you Sherri and to the entire family. You are in my thoughts and in my prayers. David Albright
My deepest condolences to the family 🌹you are in my prayers
Our staff will continue to keep your family in our prayers. We thank you for allowing us to serve your family.
