Frances Harper

Frances (Chestnut) Harper was born on December 30, 1933 in Patterson, Arkansas to the late Shade and Elnonia (Elston) Chestnut. She was the second of 11 children.

Frances was reared in Arkansas and attended school in McCrory, where she graduated from the Elmira N. Brown & Willis C. Williams High School. She later moved to Chicago, IL in the late 1950’s. She was employed with the Illinois Department of Health and Human Services in the Department of Mental Health from 1966 to 1991 when she retired after 25 years of service.

Frances confessed Christ at an early age and after moving to Chicago she joined the Greater Harvest Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of founding pastor, the late Rev. Louis Boddie. Frances was active in the church as a choir member where she met Oliver Harper Sr. They were married in April of 1957 and had 4 children. The family moved to Sun River Terrace in St. Anne, IL in 1961 and relocated to Joliet, IL in 1976.

After moving to Joliet, she joined Mt. Zion Baptist church under the leadership of the late Rev. Isaac Singleton, Sr., Rev. David G. Latimore and current pastor, Rev. Doctor Curtis Bryant. Frances remained active in the church serving in several capacities, mainly on the  Nurse’s Board and she loved to cook and sew. She is known for her hand-made handkerchiefs, and she also loved traveling and bowling. Frances remained faithful in service until her health failed. She had a favorite song, “Precious Lord.”

Frances was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Oliver Sr., and 8 siblings.

Frances leaves to cherish her memories: 4 children, Joyce (Michael) Jeffries of Los Angeles, CA, Olivia Thompson of Atlanta, GA, Oliver Jr (Reaneat) Harper of Shorewood, IL and Katrina (David) O’Hare of Rancho Cucamonga, CA; six grandchildren, Aletha Haper of Joliet, IL, Tashana Cephas of Atlanta, GA, Terence Harper of Shorewood, IL, Torrea (Robert) Robbins of Dallas, TX, Cheyenne Strother of Los Angeles, CA and Micah Cooke of Colorado Springs, CO, 7 great grandchildren; two siblings, Naomi Trapp of Cleveland, Ohio, John E. Chestnut of Augusta, Arkansas, one sister-in law; Elsie (John E.) Chestnut, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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