Frances Fuller

Frances Elizabeth Willard Fuller, 102, of Greenville, SC, passed away peacefully with family present, on March 6th 2025, after a brief illness.

Frances was born on February 14th 1923 in Denton Texas to Thomas Abraham Willard and Velma Gladney Willard and named after the prominent temperance reformer and suffragist. She attended public schools and graduated at the top of her class with high honors with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at North Texas State Teachers college in 1944. She went on to obtain a Master of Science degree in Parasitology from Tulane University (New Orleans) in 1948.

While attending Tulane, she met her future husband, Corodon (Don) Spaulding Fuller Jr., who was studying medicine at LSU. After they both graduated, they moved to Pittsboro, NC where Don was a family physician, and Frances began raising her two boys. The family moved to Chapel Hill in 1963 when Dr. Fuller took a job with the Public Health Department.

Frances wanted to work after raising her sons and went back to school at UNC to obtain her nursing degree in 1972 at the age of 49. After graduation, Frances worked for the Home Health Agency in Chapel Hill for a few years. When she decided to take a job at Duke hospital, a prior patient of hers wrote a kind article about her in the local paper in which he said that “I’ve never met a nurse who had the concern, dedication, devotion, and love she has for her patients and job, never being in a hurry and always patient even if it was past her working hours or on the weekends…she is a living example of what a nurse should be.” Frances spent the next 16 years, working as a registered nurse, at the rehabilitation department of Duke Hospital. She loved her work at the hospital and was known for her dedication to her work, and her compassion for both the patients and coworkers. She would often bring patients home for dinner shortly before they were released, who had suffered strokes, or were paraplegics, or quadriplegics, to help them feel that they could continue to enjoy life after a serious medical condition.

From her time growing up as a little girl in the small town of Denton, TX, until her passing, Frances loved the outdoors. One of her prized possessions from her childhood was the bird egg collection she had gathered as a child climbing up trees around their home. Frances could often be found taking long walks along the local creeks in Chapel Hill and in Duke Forest. Frances was a dog lover and cared for many dogs over her lifetime. They often accompanied her on her frequent walks. Frances also enjoyed traveling with her siblings and friends. When the Friendship Force International organization started in 1977, she joined and participated for many years. She formed lifelong friendships through her travels and hosting.

Frances moved to Rolling Green Village in Greenville, SC when she was 85, to be closer to family. While at Rolling Green she continued to make friends and enjoyed spending time visiting other residents. If she found there were residents in healthcare who did not have family, she would “adopt” them as her own, and visit with them on a regular basis. This practice continued past her 100th birthday.

Frances is survived by her son Corodon S. Fuller, and his wife Jean, as well as her son Bill Fuller and his wife Beth. She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Cory Fuller, Janelle Maners, Sarah Wilson and Diana Fuller. She got to enjoy time with her great granddaughter, Ellie Wilson as well prior to her passing. She was proceeded in death by her brother, John Willard, and her two sisters, Helen Willard and Mary Strait.

A private memorial by her family is planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Upstate Forever, Greenville SC, the Greenville Humane Society, or to a charity of your choice.