In Memoriam 1992-1997/Frances Gail Fletcher

[Page 333]

IN MEMORIAM 1992—1997 333

FRANCES GAIL FLETCHER 1923—1996

The Universal House ofjustice was deeply saddened to learn . . . of the passing of the devoted maidservant of God, Mrs. Frances Fletcher. Be assured ofits fervent prayers at the Sacred Threshold for the progress of her soul in the Abhá Kingdom, and that your hearts may be solaced through the divine grace of

the Blessed Beauty.

Department of the Secretariat July 25, 1996

F rances Gail Fletcher was born to Albert and Decima Green in Fort Bragg, California, on September 3, 1923. She and her younger brother, Virgil, grew up in nearby Ukiah where, within the context of home, church, and community, her strong faith in God, her devotion to children’s education, and her singing voice began to develop. Soon after graduating from high school, she married Robert F. Fletcher and later settled in Healdsburg, California, where she raised two children—Susan and Steven. During those years she eagerly participated in the religious education of Children and youth and in local activities planned for them.

Area travels frequently took the Fletchets past the Geyserville Bahá’í School. Curious about the place she did not learn about it until she hired Alla Dakserhof as a piano teacher for her daughter. She found in Alla a spiritual mother for herself. After a period of intense study, prayer, and consultation with her minister, Frances declared her faith in Baha’u’llah in 1953. Now, with increased enthusiasm for serving her Lord, she began to teach her new Faith to family and friends. Her home was always open to seekers, and as a loving hostess and

patient teacher, she was instrumental in establishing the Local Spiritual Assemblies of Healdsburg, Fullerton, and Rohnert Park in California.

Throughout her life Frances studied art, music, and human development. She pursued postsecondary education later than most, graduating from Santa Rosa Junior College at the age of forty with high honors in nursing.

Circumstances in her life changed, and she considered the options of pursuing additional education, ofcontinuing a moderately comfortable lifestyle surrounded by family and Friends, or of seeking other adventure. Since she was only truly happy when serving others, it was no surprise that she chose to fulfill a dream of pioneering.

In 1978, at the age of fifty-four, she moved to Africa where she became active in the expansion and deepening work in Lesotho. She was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly there, sewing it as secretary for several years. In 1987. she moved to the small town of Hlatikulu in Swaziland,

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where she worked selflessly to keep rural Bahá’í communities alive. She also saw a need, and an opportunity, to serve the communities with a preschool at the Regional Bahá’í Center.

Frances began to gather material for the training of teachers and eventually wrote a valuable manual, appropriately titled 7% Tender Yam. She trained hundreds of preschool teachers from within and without Swaziland.

As the years and heavy workload became an obvious strain, she was often encouraged to leave Hlatikulu for places that were physically less challenging. Even though the jobs of training teachers and caretaking the Bahá’í center became for her a formidable tasks, she Chose to continue these services. She completed the training ofa group offive teachers just two months before her passing. She anected the hearts and lives of hundreds of teachers, and by doing so, she has touched the “tender years” of countless thousands of Children.

On July 21, 1996, while standing up to serve others at the Regional Bahá’í Center, she lost consciousness of this earthly plane and drifted peacefully and radiantly away into the arms of her Lord. The Bahá’ís of Hlatikulu asked the local authorities for permission to bury her at the center. This was not possible, but they offered the Bahá’ís four hundred square meters of the local cemetery. The spot has a glorious View over Hlatikulu and was gratefully accepted, and plans were made to develop it.

The funeral was preceded by an all-night vigil. Prayers, songs, and tributes were paid to “Gogo” Fletcher for her outstanding contributions to the Swaziland community. The funeral service, though breaking with many norms, was conducted in accordance with Bahá’í law with great dignity and an abundance of spirit.

THE Bahá’í WORLD

The funeral service was also a momentous proclamation event. Among the many who spoke fondly of Frances was Ms. Alice Dlamini representing the Ministry of Education. She said, “The Ministry of Education treasured the contributions she made toward improving education in the country, by committing herself to training preschool teachers, who in turn transmitted the knowledge and skills acquired to young children.” Referring to the Bahá’í center in Hlatikulu where most of the training took place, she said that it “has become the fountain of knowledge where those aspiring to be preschool teachers flock to draw the living waters of wisdom which are enhanced by love, kindness, respect for Others, and good character building.”

Although it was raining and very cold, children from the preschool participated in the funeral program. Each carried a red rose and deposited it into the grave after the lowering of the casket.

This handmaiden of God was a most courageous and special soul. Her dedication, sacrifice, and unconditional love for all people had and will continue to have a marked influence on those who were privileged to know and learn from her. The many people she taught in quiet conversations, luncheons, firesides, teas, study groups, potluck suppers, training sessions, and Children’s Classes now have touched many other hearts throughout the world. Both of her natural Children, along with her many other “spiritual” children, are active participants in Bahá’í communities all over the globe.

From an article xukmitted 5y

7773 National Spiritual Assembly of the Balad’z’: Of5wazilzmd