November 9, 1934 - January 22, 2025
After a short illness, Sarah Frances “Fran” Purvis Mauney passed away quietly in her sleep on January 22, 2025 in Vidalia, Georgia at the age of 90. Her great-niece Kate Martin Shiver was by her side.
Fran was born in the south Georgia farming community of Mendes on November 9, 1934. She graduated from Glenville High School where she excelled on the debate team, played on the state championship women’s basketball team and was the valedictorian of her class. After two years at Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville she transferred to the University of Georgia, where she completed her BA in mathematics. She was a member of both Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa. She later earned an MA in mathematics from Emory University. Fran taught math in the Fulton County Schools (Atlanta and Roswell) for fifty years. She was highly respected by her students, who knew her as a strict but fair and kind teacher. A woman of deep faith, she was active in the Roswell First Baptist Church, where she served on the accounting committee until the last year of her life. For many years she volunteered to deliver Meals on Wheels in Roswell.
Fran had many interests and pursued them with passion. During her first two years after college, while living and teaching in downtown Atlanta, she saved enough money to spend a summer in Europe and journeyed solo at a time when most young women would not have been so brave or bold. In later years she traveled often with her sister Kate and brother-in-law John, exploring national parks and historic sites across the continental USA and venturing further to Alaska and Hawaii. A trip to Israel with Kate and John was a treasured experience. Fran was a voracious reader and especially enjoyed mystery novels. She seldom turned on a television but loved to watch movies at the cinema. She adored dogs and cats. Fran rarely missed a new exhibition at the High Museum of Art, which she visited via public transit. She was physically active throughout her life. She participated regularly in aerobics classes and into her 80s continued to square dance at the Extended Challenge (C3A) level. Also, well into her 80s she did her own yardwork, mowing the large yard at her Crossville Road home in Roswell. In 2022 she moved to the Brookdale Chamblee retirement community in Roswell, where she made many new friends and took full advantage of the program of diverse activities.
Fran was beloved by all who knew her because of her positive and cheerful spirit, kindness, generosity and humility. She was devoted to her family and until she was 90 she never missed a special holiday or celebration with her extended families, the Mauneys in Hampton, Georgia and the Martin clan in south Georgia. Fran was predeceased by first husband Claude Sprague, second husband Yates Mauney, their baby son Yates Mauney, Jr., and her dear friend of many years David Morris. She was also predeceased by her siblings Mattox Purvis, Kate Purvis Martin and Harley Edward Purvis and their spouses. She is survived by her sons Danny and Charles Mauney and their families, including beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as numerous beloved nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.
Following Fran’s express wishes there will be no funeral service. Her ashes will be interred at Shiloh United Methodist Church Cemetery in Reidsville, Georgia, alongside the graves of her parents.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Roswell First Baptist Church, 710 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell, GA 30075, or to a charity of one’s choice.
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory, Statesboro, GA.
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