Mary Frances (Davis) Abernathy

Mary Frances Abernathy, 89, of Greensboro, Georgia, died Tuesday, Oct. 14. Born April 3, 1936, to Joe Sidney Davis Sr. and Carrie Delilah Holcomb Davis in Sparta, Georgia, Mary Frances grew up on a farm and started raising chickens. As a junior in high school she won first place in a national 4-H contest with her chickens and received a scholarship to the University of Georgia, where she became one of the first women to ever major in poultry. At UGA, she met the love of her life, Richard “Paul” Abernathy. After marrying him in 1957, she worked as an instructor for Singer Sewing Machine in Ithaca, New York, to support Paul as he focused on getting his PhD at Cornell University. A year later, they had their first son, Carl. Two more sons, David and Daniel, followed.

During their 62 years of marriage, the couple and their family lived in Griffin, Georgia; Blacksburg, Virginia; and West Lafayette, Indiana. In retirement, Mary Frances and Paul bought a home on Lake Oconee in Greensboro, which allowed Mary Frances to spend time with her five siblings and with her many nephews and nieces, who she thought of as her own children. Mary Frances and Paul were active members of First Baptist Church of Greensboro for 30 years and met scores of their dearest friends at the church.

Mary Frances is survived by her children, Carl of Greensboro, Georgia; David of Jupiter, Florida, and Daniel (Beth) of Colfax, Illinois; and two very special granddaughters, Annie of Ithaca, New York, and Amelia of Arlington, Virginia. She was preceded in death by her husband; her father; her mother; her brothers, Joe and Billy Davis; and her sisters, Blanche Scoggins, Louise Moore-Arrington, and Martha Mixon.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 203 S. Main Street, Greensboro, GA 30642, with the funeral service following at 1:30 p.m. Reverend Mark Jones will officiate. Interment will take place afterward at Sparta Cemetery, Hamilton Street, Sparta, GA 31087. Memorial donations in Mary Frances’ name may be made to the Georgia 4-H Foundation at https://georgia4hfoundation.org. McCommons Funeral Home, 109 W. Broad St., Greensboro, GA, (706) 453-2626, is entrusted with arrangements. Please visit www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register.

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