GREGORY, FRANCES HELENA MacCOLLUM - Richmond, Virginia - It is with great sadness the family of Frances Gregory announces her death, resulting from Alzheimer’s disease, on January 30, 2014 at The Hermitage at Cedarfield, Henrico, Virginia. She was born on January 12, 1939 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada and was predeceased by her parents, Ora Parkhill MacCollum and Mary Sealy MacCollum. Fran had a brilliant mind, was an honors graduate, and class valedictorian at Saint John High School. She spent one year at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton before pursuing her nursing career. Fran received her R.N. degree from the Saint John General Hospital School of Nursing where she led her class and was valedictorian. Having the third highest marks in the Province of New Brunswick she received the Governor General’s Medal for scholastic excellence. Fran and her husband, Jim “Doc” Gregory, moved to Baltimore MD in 1963 where she was the Assistant Head Nurse in Obstetrics at John’s Hopkins Hospital. Later she was her husband’s Office Manager and the first colonscopy nurse in Richmond. At 5’2’’ tall she made her high school and university basketball teams. After moving to Richmond, she was a linesman and referee for children’s and adult men’s hockey. She enjoyed ice skating, skiing, playing tennis for Kanawha and The Westwood Club and playing bridge with good friends. Fran was one of the founders of Study Hall, an evening program for middle and high school students held at St. Christopher’s School. She was a board member of the Retreat Hospital Women’s Auxiliary and was active in the operation of the hospital gift shop. She was also a member of the Richmond Academy of Medicine Women’s Auxiliary and a co-manager of their Antique Show at the Science Museum. She will be remembered for her wit, dry sense of humor, and especially her kindness and generosity. She loved people, a good party, and her beautiful sunsets at the ‘Rivah.’ Fran was an exceptional person who will be sorely missed by family and friends. Fran is survived by her husband of 51 years, Dr. James S. Gregory, her sons Michael, and Stephen and his wife, Katharine, and their children Claire, Max and Scotty, all of Richmond; her sister Carolyn Earle of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and nieces Catherine Read and sons Owen and Benjamin Lewis of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Lorna Read and husband Antonio Caballero of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and by her two very special ‘pussycats’, Romeo and Juliet. The family would like to thank close friends, the Hilton Head Girls, and The Circle of Friends for their continued support throughout Fran’s illness. The family would also like to express their deepest gratitude to the Cedarfield Special Care, Health Care and Hospice Units for their compassionate and expert care of Fran and family.
The family will hold private services for Fran. A reception in Fran’s honor will be held at The Westwood Club on Saturday, February 15, 2014 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Fran’s honor may be made to The Virginia Home for Boys and Girls. 8716 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23294; telephone: 804-270-6566 or vhbg.org/giving-and-events/ways-to-give/.