Maudine Magee Stringer Knight, 92, died at 4 a.m. Sunday, June 13, 2010 at her residence in Franklinton. She was co-owner of The Fashion Shop in Franklinton for many years and a member of First Baptist Church.
Maudine, or Deanie, as she was called by her great-grandchildren, was very much loved by her family and friends, and loved them in return. Before her health declined in recent years, the grandchildren could always count on her for hugs and sweets. Years ago, she and Thurman babysat many of them, and Deanie kept them in cuter hand-made clothes than you could buy in any store. As a friend to others, she was always among the first to respond in times of need, bringing casseroles and desserts in times of grief and chicken soup in times of illness. She dearly loved her children and all her sisters and brothers, and grieved over the years as her siblings and in-laws began to pass away. And she was blessed to find a second love, Thurman, a few years after her first love, Frank Lane, passed away. She and Thurman enjoyed traveling with friends, saw many beautiful places and shared many a laugh.
She loved and served the Lord and for years she was active in her Sunday School class and Merry Hearts at First Baptist Church. She was a member of the Garden Club and the American Legion Auxiliary, and she was always up for a game of bridge with friends. She co-owned The Fashion Shop with sisters Clarice Richardson and Jean Warren for several years, and she and Jean kept peace in the family for many a husband by picking out and beautifully wrapping last-minute gifts.
The family wants to express special thanks for her caretakers, most recently Ray and Ann Magee, with whom she was living the past eight months; Frances Holmes; Juanita Jenkins and Nelline McCain. They all cared for her and came to love her like a family member.
She is survived by two sons: Russell Lane (Elaine) Stringer of Baton Rouge and Larry (Dorothy) Stringer of Carriere, Miss.; a daughter, Cornell (Danny) Bond of Franklinton; a sister, Bessie Schumacker of Baton Rouge; six grandchildren: Scott (Lana) Stringer, Walt (Ginger) Stringer, Bret Stringer, Stephen Stringer, Paige and Butch Robertson and Trey Bond, and 16 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Frank Lane Stringer and Robert Thurman Knight; parents, William Eugene and Clara Bateman Magee; siblings, Vickie M. Varnado, Clarice M. Richardson, Aylene M. Consterdine, “Ice” Bill Magee, Virginia M. Bryan, Jean M. Warren, Dick Magee, Max Magee and an infant sister.
Visitation was held on Tuesday, June 15 at Crain Funeral Home from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., and continued on Wednesday from 9 a.m. until time for the funeral service at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel, with Eld. Brent King, Eld. Billy Reyer and Dr. Randy Simmonds officiating. Burial will follow in the Morris Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations in her memory to First Baptist Church of Franklinton.
Pallbearers are grandsons Scott Stringer, Walt Stringer, Bret Stringer, Stephen Stringer, and Trey Bond, and great-grandson Cole Stringer.
