Ava Frakes (1917 - 2010) Ava Blanche Frakes, age 93 of Pensacola, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, December 24, 2010. She was of the Baptist Faith. There were two driving forces in Ava's life; family and her career. As a Santa Rosa County School bus driver for greater than 39 years, she received several awards including 25 years safe driving award and employee of the year award. She drove students from their childhood to adulthood and then their children. She considered her bus as her office and as a rolling classroom where she understood and contributed to the lives of her "students" through mutual learning and love exchanged between "her children" and a passionate bus driver. She received The Disabled American Veterans 2010 Commanders Club Award.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Hardwick, Sr. and Arvie Frakes; three sons, David Odelle Dewberry, Joseph Michael Dewberry and Harry Hardwick Dewberry, Jr and her grandson, Anthony Odelle Dewberry.
She is survived by her two daughters, Martha West Bailey (Richard) and Dorothy Costello; grandchildren, Robert, John and James West, Cheryl and Chandra Costello, Joseph Dewberry, David "Dew" Dewberry, Cissie Dewberry Hurston, Joseph Dewberry, Michelle Dewberry, Raymond Dewberry, and Aaron Nauret; fourteen great-grandchildren; special daughters-in-law, Jerry Dewberry and Lynette Dewberry Stafford; sister, Dorothy Holmes; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
A special thanks to Clarence, Robert and Freddie for their loving care and friendship.
Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 4, 2010 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South with Pastor Larry Westman officiating. Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, January 3, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
