Mrs. Newell’s visitation will be held at Riverwood Family Funeral Service in Brookhaven, MS on Thursday, January 9, 2020 from 5-8 p.m. Her funeral service will be held in the chapel of Riverwood on Friday, January 10, 2020 at 11 a.m. with burial following in the Newell Cemetery. Any food donation can be taken to Jackson Street United Methodist Church at 908 North Jackson Street, Brookhaven, MS.
Frances Lanelle Sykes Newell, 74, of Brookhaven, MS, passed away at her residence January 7, 2020, with her loving family by her side. She was born to Paul and Melba Sykes on December 5, 1945. Mrs. Newell worked at Stahl Urban from June 1964 to December 1982. She then worked at the Potter Company in Wesson from 1983 to 1985. Beginning in 1985, she went to work at Bernstein and Sons Shipping Department until 2005. She finished her lengthy 46 years of labor at Wal-Mart in Brookhaven from August 2005 to December 2010. Her lengthy work record and impeccable work ethic represent her life-long commitment as a labor of love for her husband and children.
Soon after her retirement, she was met with extreme health difficulties that led to a life altering procedure. In April of 2011, Mrs. Newell had extreme complications from heart surgery that led to becoming a double amputee above the knee. She continued as a strong Christian witness for her family, church family, and friends, even after her life changing surgery. She was a faithful member of Jackson Street United Methodist Church since June 5, 1990. She diligently served as the Sunday School Superintendent since 2003 until this past Sunday (only two days before passing away).
Mrs. Newell was preceded in death by both parents and her sister, Dorothy McMath.
She is survived by her husband, John E. Newell, Jr.; two daughters, Michelle Case and husband, Pat and Allison Francis and husband, Chuck; four grandchildren, Garrett Case and wife Amber, Brittany Tanksley and husband, Roman, Tyler Case and girlfriend, Kayla Gunn, and Daniel Francis; five great grandchildren whom she adored, Blake Reed, Brantley Watts, Zayne Watts, Mila Tanksley, and Lexi Case.
Coming from a large family, she was the oldest of ten children. With the passing of her sister, Dorothy, in December 2016, her surviving siblings in age order are the following loving family: Paul Michael Sykes, Patsy Ann Thornton, William Henry Sykes, Mary Helen Guess, Gary Lee Sykes, Larry Franklin “Frankie” Sykes, Randy Lamar Sykes and Johnny Edward Sykes. She is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews.
