FRANCES R. JASPER

Frances was born February 26, 1916 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was the younger of two daughters of Lewis Elwood and Ida Bell Robinson.  She was raised in the Quaker township of Haddonfield, New Jersey.  In 1942 she moved to Washington, D.C.  She married Melvin Eugene Redmond in 1949.  To that union one daughter was born, Francine Kay.  In 1955 she became a young widow, not to marry again until 1970 to Herbert McVere Jasper, who preceded her in death after thirty-one years of marital bliss. 
 
Frances gave her life to God at an early age and became a member of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church (NJ).  In 1946, after attending the annual Messiah Christmas concert, she joined Shiloh Baptist Church (DC), where she served for fifty-five years.  She held numerous leadership positions, chaired several special events, sang in the Senior Choir, and received many awards and citations.  Also, her love for children involved her in youth groups, the PTA at Kay’s elementary and Junior High schools, neighborhood clubs and civic groups. She was an ardent supporter of a singing group that her daughter belonged to, “The Uniques of Shiloh”.  Wherever she served, she was known for her delicious brownies, and Rice Krispie treats. 
 
In 1933 she graduated from Haddonfield Memorial High School (NJ) and later took classes at Apex Beauty College to become a hairdresser.  From there she launched a successful beauty supply sales position serving the Philadelphia, PA  and Camden, NJ area.  As a result of her success, she was able buy her first car for $200 at twenty years of age.  Ever motivated to do more, she took typing classes and passed the civil service exam, then once again changed careers.  In 1942 she went to work in Washington, D.C. as a Clerk Typist in the War Department.  But that wasn’t enough; Frances continued advancing her skills by attending classes at Catholic University and job training at the Pentagon. She was employed in the Federal Government for thirty years, working her way up to be a secretary in the Department of Justice, Office of Legal Counsel during the Rehnquist years.  Frances also volunteered as an American Red Cross Candy Striper during the Korean War years, which is how she met her first husband.  Additionally, she gave of her time at the White House during the Clinton administration. 
 
In 2001 Frances became a widow for the second time and moved to San Antonio, Texas to be near her daughter and family.  She immediately affiliated with St. Paul United Methodist Church under the pastorate of her son-in-law, Rev. Terrence K. Hayes.  While there she served as chaplain of the Prime Timers Senior Group, was a member of the adult Sunday School Class, and the Prayer Warriors group.  If there was a piano in the room she would gravitate to it, playing hymns and teaching chop sticks to every youngster who visited her. She took up residence in Independence Hill Retirement Community of San Antonio, which allowed her to live independently and partake of many opportunities to enjoy her passion for music, concerts and other fun activities during her golden years.  She made many new friends while there. 
 
To cherish her memories are: her devoted daughter, Francine Kay (Terrence),  granddaughters Karolyn Janee, and Frances Cecilia (Zhon), great  granddaughter Abigail Zaniya, devoted cousins Geraldine Wyatt, Veronica Hightower, George Lucas, Cindy Rozier, Catherine Thomas, and Claudia Thomas, Goddaughter Phyllis May (Payton), Godson Stanford Coleman, “adopted” daughter Sylvia Wiggins, and a host of other relatives, family and friends. 
 

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