Frances Ridenhour Monroe

Frances Marie [Ridenhour] Monroe, wife of Paul H. Monroe, Jr., fulfilled her baptismal covenant and crossed over to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and all the saints, family members, and friends who have gone on before.  Frances was born November 17th, 1948, to Paul James Ridenhour and Christine Jobe Ridenhour Jones in Burlington, NC. She was educated in the public schools of North Carolina to include: Burlington, Rockingham, and Montgomery County of NC. She was very active in school activities at Rockingham, NC where she met and dated her later to be husband, Paul. Upon graduation from East Montgomery High School, she attended and graduated from Louisburg Junior College, and continued her education at Scarritt College in Nashville, TN with a major in Christian Education and a minor in Psychology.

She applied her college degree and training by serving as a Director of Christian Education at two United Methodist Churches, served on district and sub-district committees both as a member and chairperson. Following her marriage to Paul, she changed careers and worked at St. Andrews University Laurinburg, NC as Director of Payroll. Following her husband Paul's career, she came to Fayetteville, NC, which became their home.

She has been very active in the Fayetteville community over the years. Some of the organizations she has served as an active member until her death include: The Briarwood Garden Club, Served as Second Vice President of the Fayetteville Woman's Club, Member of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce for over 40 years, One of the founding members of the Lafayette Society, member of the UDC, Member and Treasurer of the Cape Fear Valley Scottish Clans, One of the founding members St. George's Anglican Catholic Church where she has faithfully served as the Treasurer and Vestry member until her death.

Frances was a very gifted person in music, art, and floral culture. As a child she played the piano by ear and had a beautiful contralto voice and sang in several church choirs as well as in public venues.  Anyone who ever heard her beautiful voice always loved it and said what a special treat that was to hear Frances sing. As a person of floral culture, she was a wonderful and natural floral designer. As a garden club person, she won many first-place awards. The floral skills she possessed led her to form Floral Arts, Inc. with her husband, Paul, a local floral shop that has served the local community for over 42 years.

To know Frances Monroe was to see someone with a beautiful smile, a twinkle in her eye, and just a pleasant joyful person to be with.  Frances was like a butterfly; she went where she pleased and please where she went. Frances never met a stranger and was a person who liked giving hugs.  All people were special to her and if she could help someone she never hesitated.  Frances left this world and the people she met better because she was truly one of God's special people who put oil on the wheels of life and helped smooth out the bumps.  As her husband Paul said of her and she said of him, she was the love of his life.  She left all of us an example of love to one another. We look forward to seeing her again in her new life in Christ.

Frances is survived by her long and devoted husband, Paul H. Monroe, Jr. of 47 wonderful years of marriage; her sister, Denise (Jones} Gillam and husband, Steve; and many Ridenhour and Jobe cousins.

A Visitation will be held on Friday July 8, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday July 9, 2022 at 10:00 AM in St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church, 806 Arsenal Ave., Fayetteville, NC 28305

Those who wish may send floral tributes or make contributions to the Care Clinic of Fayetteville, NC in Frances's memory.

Funeral arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, N.C. 28301

Online condolences may be made at http://www.jerniganwarren.com

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