Francie Mayo Filomio

Mary Frances Mayo Filomio, age 74, of Ft. White, FL passed away Monday, September 30, 2019 at the Lake City Medical Center from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Frances was born the youngest of four siblings in Miami, Florida, in March of 1945, when Miami was considered a small town. She was raised by a sometimes single, hardworking mother. As a child, Mary Frances, grew up playing outdoors, getting dirty, learning to fix cars, and was somewhat of a tomboy. Anyone who knew her in later years would have a hard time believing that this dainty, ladylike, dark-haired beauty was ever a tomboy. Her start in this life did not offer her many advantages, which makes her story that much more lovely. She did a lot with very little. She scratched, clawed, worked hard, and always found a way to survive.

In 1966, she married Gene Russell in Hollywood, Florida. She then gave birth to her self-proclaimed two greatest accomplishments in life, her first born, Mark, and later, her baby girl, Michelle.

You see, while Frances was always hardworking, assertive, brave, courageous, organized, a go-getter, and a survivor, she never received accolades that the world gives. Her joy was in her family and her children. She made them feel as if they were the smartest and best. She poured her life into theirs.

The family moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1976 where she finished raising her children. There she worked in real estate and apartment rentals. While life was not without ups and downs, she gave her children roots, a place to call home, and many wonderful memories.

In the early 1990s, she found her way back to her high school sweetheart, James Vincent Filomio. They had the joy of spending her last 25-plus years together. The two made the best of the time they had together. They worked together managing rental properties at the University of Florida, traveled to see children and grandchildren, and just enjoyed each other’s love and company. Anyone could see they were true soulmates.

Frances lived her life out loud. Literally, anyone who knew her can attest that you never had to wonder what she was thinking. That trait is one that we treasure today. There was no word left unsaid. All those that love her know how much she loved them and vice versa. She lived bravely and loved fiercely. She was taken from us much too soon. We are thankful for the precious life we got to live beside her and know that she is with her Heavenly Father, whom she loves so well.

“To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.” Frances was the world to us, and that became her purpose in life and made all the difference in ours. We will forever miss her until we see her again in Heaven.

She was predeceased by her parents, William Henry & Mary Jane Shanks Mayo; a sister, Ida Mae Bennett, a brother, Carl Mayo.
She is survived by her husband, Vincent James “Jimmy” Filomio, Ft. White, FL; two sons, Mark (Lisa) Russell, Saltillo, MS; Steve (Barbara) Russell, Maine; one daughter, Michelle (Jay) Hopson, Hattiesburg, MS; one step-son, Brett (Katie) Filomio; two step-daughters, Lindsay Filomio and Suzanne Filomio all of Florida; one brother, Beryl (Millie) Mayo, Live Oak; twelve grandchildren.

Funeral services were held, 1:00 PM,  Saturday, October 5, 2019 in the Brody Harris Memorial Chapel.  Interment followed in the Live Oak Cemetery.
Visitation was held one hour prior to the services from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, IN 38105.