Named for her Mother, Laura Frances, the youngest
of the Medearis girls was known as Frances, but called “Dink” by her close
friends, and at the time of her marriage to Phin Horton could walk under
his out-stretched arm with a hat on. To her family she was known
as “Mama Dear,” a name given to her by her oldest granddaughter, which
was descriptive of her kind and loving devotion to everyone. She
gave up “housekeeping” at her own home to return to the “Horton Home Place”
in Old Salem to care for her mother-in-law. She was active in her
church and community, including Old Salem. An excellent homemaker,
she was especially known at holiday times for her homemade “cheese straws.”
Her leisure time was spent with her family going to horse shows to watch
her husband and children compete and with “the girls” playing bridge.
Graduation 1916
Frances & Louise Henley
Poem by "Mama Dear" about her three oldest grandchildren
