Funeral services for Joyce “Teeny” Ellard Frankel, 92, of Leland will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 24, 2023 at the Leland Presbyterian Church. She died Friday, March 17, 2023. Burial will be in the Leland-Stoneville Cemetery under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Leland.
She was born on March 22, 1930, and was just shy of celebrating her 93rd birthday. Teeny lived in Starkville, Mississippi until the age of 12. She then moved to Leland, a place she was proud to call home, and graduated from Leland High School. While attending Mississippi College for Women, she made her debut at the Delta Debutante Club in 1948. She returned to Leland to care for her maternal grandmother, Amelia Halbert Thompson “Big Mama”. While caring for her grandmother, she began working for Mayor William “Bill” Caraway as his Secretary. It was during this time that Teeny met a young farmer named Leo Frankel, and they began dating. She married Leo, the love of her life, on July 19, 1950, and they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary shortly before Leo passed away. Teeny and Leo created a lifetime of memories, many coming from travel, and most coming from all things Mississippi State. They had three children: Kathryn Frankel Chisolm Smith (deceased), Linda Frankel Gwin (John) and Lee Maurice Frankel (Hardie).
Teeny was always very involved in her community and her church. She was a life-long member of the Leland Presbyterian Church, where she participated in the life and fellowship of the church. She enjoyed the monthly Bible Studies with the Women of the Church (WOC)/Presbyterian Women, as well as other gatherings. She was ordained as a Deacon in 1987 and ordained as a Ruling Elder in 2005. She enjoyed visiting members, and even “trained” many in the “best way” to make visits to shut-ins. Teeny was a member of the Cotton Wives Association, Leland Deer Creek Garden Club, and the Leland Junior Auxiliary. In 2005, she was selected as Queen of the Leland Junior Auxiliary Ball. She was very honored and humbled by the selection. One activity that she loved was playing bridge. She belonged to three different clubs, which were referred to as “The Presbyterian”, “The Methodist”, and “The Baptist”.
Her proudest accomplishment came in the form of her five grandchildren: Amelia Chisolm Goodenough (Jason), Carter Smith, Georgia Smith LaBorde (Brock), Aimee Claire Frankel Breedlove (Jonathan), and Lee Martin Frankel (Brittany); as well as her eight great-grandchildren: Eloise Foster Goodenough, Penelope Wright Goodenough, Leo Thompson Zeigler, Thomas Lawrence Zeigler, Greyson Elias Breedlove, Mattie Camille Breedlove, John Martin Frankel, and Lula Fay Frankel; and her two great-grandchildren to come.
The family would like to thank all of the staff at Magnolia Gardens for the loving care they extended to Teeny for the last three years of her life.
There will be a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 24, 2023 at Leland Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Leland Presbyterian Church, the Leland Animal Relief and Rescue Foundation (AARF), or your charity of choice.