FRANCES ION VINING LOVELACE
Frances Ion Vining Lovelace, 98, widow of James Weldon Lovelace, died Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, at her home.
Born Oct. 16, 1928, in Sumter, she was a daughter of the late James Walter Vining and Mattie Maybelle Blume Vining. She was a member of Open Bible Baptist Church and was formerly employed at Campbell Soup Company and Becton-Dickinson. She enjoyed her vegetable garden and traveling with her sisters. First and foremost, she loved her family.
Survivors include three daughters, Betty Jean Lovelace McLhinney, Barbara Ann Lovelace Hale and Jo-Reba Lovelace Bryson (Dr. Thomas Allan Bryson); two sons, James “Jimmy” Weldon Lovelace Jr. (Jean Alieen Nettles Lovelace) and Francis “Frankie” Ion Lovelace (Connie Mary Loraine Parker Lovelace); eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a sister-in-law, Sara Emma Stone Vining.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by brothers Thomas Franklin Vining, James Otto Vining, Clarence Curtis Vining (Barbara June Woodyard Vining), George Douglas Vining (Alice Geneva Burke Vining), Jesse William Vining (Betty Shelby Jean Boykin Vining) and Cecil Eugene Vining; sisters, Eloise Vining Broadway (Marion Broadway), Leila Mae Vining Bell (Charles William Bell), Mildred Kathleen Vining Winburn (Charles Lee Winburn), Thelma Alberta Vining Waynick (Joseph Marriables Waynick), Mary Pansy Vining Summerton (Dayle Wayne Summerton) and Mattie Louise Vining Edwards (John Douglas Edwards); a son-in-law, David James McLhinney Sr.; a grandson, David James McLhinney Jr.; a granddaughter, Stephanie Edith Hale Criblez; and a great-granddaughter, Madlyn Dale Medlock Aylock.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home.
A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Danny Edwards officiating.
The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Visiting Angels and Amdisys Hospice for their loving care and compassion.
Memorials may be made to Open Bible Baptist Church, 180 Old Manning Rd., Sumter, SC 29150.
Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.