Frances Norris Register

Cashiers - Frances Norris Registerof Cashiers, North Carolina, passed away July 29, 2010 after valiantly battling cancer for over fifteen years. She was born October 20, 1929 to Frank Wisconsin Norris and Pearl Frances Hawkins Norris of Jacksonville, Florida. She was predeceased by her son, Joseph Alvin Register, III in 2002. She is survived by her daughter Gayle Register Bolton of Savannah, Georgia. She is also survived by her three granddaughters and their spouses, Jennifer and Keith Stapleton of Cornelia, Georgia; Rebecca and Brian Marple of Medina, Ohio and Charlotte and Craig Savage of Richmond, Virginia. She was blessed with four great grandchildren, Madison Marple, Kendall Marple, McCaa Stapleton and Kavenaugh Stapleton. Frances wanted it said that she was also survived by many dear firends of her heart, plus her four legged children, Fluffy, Emily, Shea and her adopted neighborhood black bear named Brother Bear.

Frances was always a very active resident in the communities where she lived. In Jacksonville, while in high school, she joined the Civil Air Patrol during World War II and flew a Piper Cub airplane for local missions. She graduated from Robert E. Lee HIgh School in Jacksonville and then graduated from Mt. Vernon Jr. College in Washington, D. C. She was presented in 1949 as a debutant in Jacksonville. She then moved to New York City where she worked for the Arthur Murray Dance Studio and attended the John Robert Powers School of Modeling. She returned to Jacksonville and was married to Joseph Alvin Register, Jr. In Jacksonville, she was a founding member of the Clover Garden Circle, a member of the Junior League, Chairman of the Jacksonville Symphony Concert and a member of St. Marks Episcopal Church and had her own accounting firm.

Frances divorced in 1971 and went to work for Holland America Steamship Cruise Lines out of Rotterdam, Holland. She circumnavigated the world several times. She retired in 1975, but continued to travel extensively where she made many lifelong international friends.

In 1987, Frances moved permanently to Cashiers, North Carolina, where she had spent numerous summers since her childhood. Her love of Highlands and Cashiers ran deep. She called the area her "huggy mountains". Initially she worked for the Olde Edwards Inn and then the Christmas Cottage in Highlands. She then worked for The Highlands Gem Shoppe in Cashiers.

Frances was a life long baseball fan. She grew up with the Jacksonville "Tars" but adopted the Atlanta Braves as her boys to the end.

Frances often referred to Cashiers as not a small town, but a Big Family. Her immediate family wishes to express their gratitude to the entire community of Cashiers for their continued on going support, love and friendship that sustained her for many years and made her wishes come true.

A graveside service will be held at Oaklawn Cemetary in Jacksonville, Florida on August 7th followed by a memorial service in Cashiers on August 20, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at the pavillion at High Hampton Inn.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Frances’ name to the Highlands Cashiers Humane Society and Friends for Life Animal Sanctuary in Cashiers and Highlands Cashiers Hospice.

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences are available by visiting bryantgrantfuneralhome.com or by email.