Florence Louise Williams Farrington

Florence Louise Williams Farrington, 102, of Vail, Arizona, formerly of Morganton, NC, passed away Tuesday, May 10, 2022.

She was born to Sarah Etta Lowdermilk Williams and James Davis Williams on May 4, 1920 in Morganton, North Carolina.  She was the youngest of 10 children (eight of whom lived to adulthood).   When she was five, her father and brothers built a two-story wooden house on what was then Route 1 (later renamed Hopewell Road).    The old homeplace had a covered porch extending all across the front, with lots of rocking chairs.  The house was heated by several fireplaces and stoves.  It had a well house, smokehouse, chicken coop, outhouse, corn crib and several woodsheds.   Her sister, Sadie, brought the first piano into the house and Florence began piano lessons.  The house also had a pump organ which she enjoyed playing.  Hers was a very close-knit family whose members enjoyed each other’s company and liked to get together at the old homeplace for holidays and special Sunday afternoons.  She was especially close to her sisters:  Annie, Sadie and Mamie; and brothers, Fred, Phifer, Clifton, and Arthur.

After graduation from high school, Florence traveled to Chattanooga, TN, about 1940 to attend the Stamps Baxter School of Music, where she met her husband, Robert Glen Farrington of Henderson, IA; they were married in 1942 in Carlsbad, NM.  They had two children:  Frances (born in Morganton), and Raymond (born in Dallas).  Robert was in the Air Force and was stationed at bases in Charleston, SC, Washington, D.C. (Bolling Field) and later Andrews in Camp Springs, MD.  He died in 1963 while still in the service.   Florence moved back to Morganton with Raymond and built a house on Hopewell Road next to the old homeplace.

Florence was a gifted musician and served as pianist and/or organist at Congress Heights Baptist Church in Washington and at Hopewell Baptist Church.  She began playing at Hopewell when she was very young (11 or 12); she only stopped playing regularly at the church when she reached her 80s.  She played for countless weddings and funerals, and also enjoyed playing at Burkemont Baptist Church from time to time.  A group from Hopewell Church visited the prison and local rest homes where she played old favorites for the residents.  She also played bells in the Hopewell Bell Choir.  She always enjoyed gospel music and was pianist for the Victoryettes, a female quartet who opened for some big-name groups in the early 50s.  She personally knew the members of The Blackwood Brothers Quartet and The Statesmen Quartet. 

She had an abiding faith and was a knowledgeable Bible scholar.  She was an independent, strong woman who was widowed and on her own for many more years than she was married.

Florence is survived by her daughter, Frances Yost (George); son, Raymond Farrington (Susan); grandchildren, Eve Cran, Chelsea Lake (Mike), Heather Hucks (Darrin), and Matthew Farrington (Brittany); great-grandchildren, Annabelle Lake Cook (Leland), Benton Lake, Lydia Farrington, Bailey Lake, Spencer Farrington, Tucker Hucks, Molly Hucks, and another Farrington great-grandchild on the way; and special niece, Ann Ross Robinson.  Ann and her sister, Lynn Ross Carr (deceased) were especially thoughtful and kind to her, which will always be appreciated by her children.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m., Thursday, May 26th, 2022 at Hopewell Baptist Church in Morganton. The funeral will begin at 2 p.m. in the church with Rev. Drs. Danny Emory and Eddy Bunton officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hopewell Baptist Church, 1112 Hopewell Road, Morganton, NC 28655.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.