Frances Pruitt Welch

Frances Pruitt Welch, 101, of Daniel Island, South Carolina, wife of the late Franklin Richardson Welch entered into eternal rest Friday, June 23, 2023. Frances was born on September 15, 1921 in Anderson, South Carolina to William Riley and Annie Bolt Pruitt. She grew up with five siblings. She attended business school and then worked in bookkeeping and accounting. She met her husband, Franklin Welch, while he was attending Clemson University. They were married in 1942 in Texas, where Franklin was participating in Army Air Corps training. She was a loving and devoted wife to Franklin. Frances and Franklin were the parents to two daughters, Frances Elaine (“Bunny”) and Anne Claire, and they resided as a family on Sullivan’s Island.

Frances possessed a strong work ethic and worked extremely hard alongside her husband as the proud owners of the Red and White grocery store on the Isle of Palms. Frances enjoyed volunteering with the Girl Scouts, encouraging leadership, confidence, service, and adventure in her daughters and other young girls in the community. Frances and her family were active members of Sullivan’s Island Baptist Church. She was also a fierce Clemson Tigers fan, and enjoyed attending the football games with her husband. Although her husband, Franklin, the love of her life, passed away in 1982, Frances remained remarkably strong for her family for 41 more years.

 Frances whole-heartedly embraced her role as “Nana” and she absolutely relished the time spent and memories made with her six grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. Nana was a spectacular cook, and was known for making the best peach cobbler, cornbread dressing, okra soup, and blue cheese dressing (Clemson blue cheese, of course). Nana also enjoyed gardening, traveling, crossword puzzles, and spending time with her family.

Frances was preceded in death by her husband, Franklin Richardson Welch. She is survived by her daughters, Frances Elaine Taylor (Freeman) and Anne Welch Richter (Lawrence); six grandchildren, Elisa G. Planty (John), Britton Welch Gentry, Elaine G. Carilli (Drew), Alice Anne Richter (Joseph Cerato), Claire R. DeVeaux (Al), and Anna E. Richter (Curtis Powell); and fifteen great-grandchildren.

Special thanks to Crescent Hospice and Melody Boscio, Wellmore of Daniel Island, especially Selena, and all who so lovingly cared for Nana in the later years of her life. Funeral services will be held at 10 am on Thursday, June 29, 2023, in the J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road. Friends are invited to join the family in the funeral chapel for a reception immediately following the service. A private family burial will follow the reception at 11:30 a.m.

Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, SC Gift Processing, 4600 Park Road, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209.