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Community Mourns Loss Of Longtime Restaurant Owner ‘Ms. Fran’
August 9, 2020
Longtime restaurant owner Frances E. Hampton, 79, passed away peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her children on August 7 at her home in McDavid after a courageous battle with cancer.
“Ms. Fran” made her life owning and operating several restaurants, including including Cagle’s Restaurant, Panhandle, Fran’s Country Inn, Fran’s Diner, and Fran’s Country Grill. At the time of her retirement in 2015, Hampton was believed to be the longest running restaurant owner in Escambia County.
After retirement, she turned to other passions including raising racing thoroughbreds, tending to flower gardens on her farm and spending time with her family and friends. Her favorite pastime was feeding the multitude of birds that called her property home.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 12 from 2:30 until 3:30 p.m. at Faith Chapel North with the funeral service to follow at 3:30 p.m.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Comments
37 Responses to “Community Mourns Loss Of Longtime Restaurant Owner ‘Ms. Fran’”
loved that lady , like my own , stopped and ate at her places for years… god has another angel now and gonna gain some wight with her top of the line food.. RIP MS FRAN…
So many memories with this lady and my Grandfather Carlton Abbott and our coffee days. I would bust in the back door of the kitchen like I owned the place and Fran was always were welcoming me and anyone trailing behind. She played a big part of my childhood, from free drinks after bicycle rides to free dinner rolls when I wanted a snack. She was always welcoming to my Grandfather as well as many other people of the community. I was saddened to hear about her battle when she so bravely started fighting it a while back. But a strong woman she was and she fought till the end. You were a great person to the community of Molino and surrounding areas and you will very much be missed. Rest in Peace Fran and tell my Grandparents I said hello when you see them in Heaven.
She was a loving ,lovely woman.gave me my first job while in high school.helped me and my mother (Linda louise parker Wilson and dottie parker many times.loved eating at her dinner on left past tate road.i love you always ms.fran.
So many memories growing up as kid with my parents going to eat at your restaurant in cantonment and molino. The sweetest woman ever. Rest in Peace Ms. Fran
These comments tell how loved Mrs Fran was.Condolences to the family.
Knew Fran for 40 years she was a great business woman but first and foremost a GREAT LADY. She went out with her boots on and God got him a good one.
My heart is broken ! I loved Fran so much ❤️ I worked for her many times. She would always make me laugh. She’d say … DONT PUT TOO MANY CARROTS IN THAT SALAD ! Sweet awesome funny special memories. RIP Fran I love you ❤️ Alan, your in my thoughts and prayers sweetie ❤️
This was one of the sweetest ladies I ever met in my life. She will be missed in so many ways. Always a smile on her face and kindness in her heart. She had the heart of an angel, so loving and giving to all. I pray for her family and friends. She will be greatly missed by all of us who had the pleasure of knowing her. RIP Ms Fran.
Her liver and onions were the best. Heaven is made better now. we will miss you Ms Fran.
kevin & kim
Fran was one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure to know. Would give you anything you needed if she could.
She was also the hardest working woman I have ever met. Whenever I would stop by her place on Cox rd. she would be either in the barn working the horses or on the riding mower cutting the grass in the heat of the day.
She will be greatly missed. My prayers for the family left behind.
Bonnie, I was so sorry to hear about your mama. Jim and I loved having dinner at her restaurant. She was always so sweet and kind. Praying for you and your family during this time of loss.
What a wonderful lady Ms.Fran always had a smile and friendly she will be deeply missed.My prayers go out to her family.
So sorry to hear you’ve left us for a BETTER PLACE, with our LORD & SAVIOR. Your food was always great and we enjoyed every time we visited with you. I’ll keep your family in my prayers!
MISS FRAN WAS A KIND LADY THAT WILL BE MISSED BY ALL..IT WAS RUMORED THAT SHE HAD A SOFT SPOT FOR THE TATE AGGIE BASEBALL TEAMS AND MANY OF THEM HAD THEIR PROM DINNERS AT FRAN’S DINER.REST IN PEACE,MISS FRAN!
What a wonderful soul she was! She will be greatly missed! She was very loving and kind. Even when she didn’t feel great, she always took time to invite me and my family in to sit and chat. Or she would come out to the van when my family would stop by to visit her. We would talk about horses and life.
Such a strong willed, determined, independent, loving person. My family and I are very happy to have met her. We look forward to seeing her again when God’s Kingdom reverses the horrible effects of pain and death.
Revelation 21:4 – “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
John 5:28,29 – Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.
I have many memories growing up in Molino and walking to Fran’s for a burger with my brother. Memories of taking my own children when they were younger, as well. She was the sweetest & always took time to stop and chat with us each and every time. God Bless her family & prayers for them during this time.
Eddie and I had so many delicious meals with Ms Fran & crew. She always cared about the family, and she allowed us to celebrate Eddies 40th birthday at Cantonment restaurant. You’ve been so missed, RIP!
RIP..God has a new angel now that is for sure you will be greatly missed..
Worked for this lady for many years. I was also privileged to rent an apartment for her. She did many great things for me and my family. I count it a true blessing to have known her. God bless her family at this time. My heart breaks for you. She was a wonderful person and will be greatly missed. ❤️
Eat at her restaurants for years she was a great cook
RIP prayers for your family
RIP. Miss Fran. I enjoyed every one of the hundreds of the meals I had there. You were such a sweet lady.
Oh NO!! I am so sorry to hear this. Loved eating at her restaurant in Molino. Best food on the Panhandle. Just good’O country cooking, like I remember when I stayed with my grandma during the Summers in the fifties and sixties. R.I.P. sweet lady. I didn’t know you, but I did meet you a few times, and I will always have fond memories of your awesome cooking at your restaurant. Prayers for the family and friends.
My heart is fuller knowing her. What a gooder she was. I gave her some YELLOW FOUR OCLOCK SEEDS and I think of her allot when I see my yellow ones rest peacefully
Sweet Lady, have missed her tomato gravy for quite some time. Rest In Peace
The best cook the Florida Panhandle has ever seen.
A big loss. Too soon.
You had a long busy life for so many years Ms. Fran. You can finally rest and be with the rest of your family you’ve always spoke of. You’re leaving behind a whole lot of others that loved you very much and will miss you. But you can rest easy knowing your values and work ethic has been instilled in them. You touched so many lives and will continue to do so in Heaven. They are thousands in and around Molino that you touched that have no idea it was your hand. You were always a very private woman who never wanted any attention for helping others. I along with my wife and all of our kids will always remember you in this fashion and we’ll all see you again. We all love you very much, The Amerson’s.
she was good friend to my Pawpaw Moe Gilmore. Fran was always nice and a great cook
Mrs. Fran! I loved this lady and will never forget her. She was always so sweet and compassionate to sweet Lucas & I. She has been and missed by me ever since she retired. My Condolences to her family.
Mrs Fran was one of the kindness person and business owner I ever met. I will always be thankful for you. You helped my grandson Ethan by doing a fundraiser for him which allowed him to be able to have the Kidney Transplant that he needed. Thank you for the bottom of my heart. R.I.P. God has called a angel home. Praying for the family.
She lived life well.
Heaven gained a wonderful soul. There will never be another lady like Ms Fran. She was a sweet wonderful lady. She was one in a million and I know her children are devastated along with our community. {{Hugs}} and Prayers to her children and family – you will all be in my thoughts and prayers.
R.I.P. – I will miss you!
Ms. Fran was one of the kindest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.
My family and I spent many nights in her restaurant chatting with her and always left feeling satisfied both with food and friendship.
She will be missed.
So sad to read this. She was a wonderful lady. Prayers to her family.
RiP Ms Fran! I just saw you a few months ago and was so happy to see you in our store. I reminded you how no one could make your clubs as good as you! ❤️