Part 3
"There are grandmothers out there who would move heaven and earth for their grandchildren." Janice Elliott-Howard, author, mother, and grandmother
Frances Annette Varnado is one such grandmother - devoted to her daughter Ashley and son-in-law Carley King's three precious children, she fits this description to a "t." Blessings all, Cohen Brent King was born in 2020, and twins Annette Denise and Mark Keith King were born in February of 2025. Van Keith Varnado stands tall, right beside Frances - a dedicated grandfather. In fact, grandson Cohen King recently told his teacher, "Don't worry Ms. Mica (Tamica), my Pa-Pa will fix it." By all accounts, Cohen thinks Van hung the moon. And I am certain the feeling is mutual.
But long before they were bestowed their precious grandbabies, Frances and Van Varnado made their way in the world. With the kind of work ethic that is endemic in this area, Van - an expert painter - has been very successful in the painting business for as long as Rodney and I have known him. We consider ourselves lucky to be his longtime clients as my mother was before us. In addition to teeming with talent, Van is a prince among men. And business-minded, he was prudently acquiring land and engaging in lucrative enterprise along the way - more on that next week.
Returning to Frances, soon after college graduation in 1995, she began teaching at Independence High School where she stayed mere months before Mr. Ed Deas, principal at Pine called her to come home to Washington Parish and teach at Pine High School. There, Frances taught biology, earth science, physical science, and environmental science and helped Coach Ricky Branch coach basketball. But beyond science and sports, she made indelible memories. The community of and kids from Pine hold a special place in Frances's heart. They took her in and treated her like family.
And Frances and Van's own family grew when daughter Ashley Elizabeth, the apple of their eye and the namesake of her maternal grandmother, was born in 1996. Ashley had the advantage of attending the Centenary Methodist Church Childcare program which Frances fondly remembers as fantastic, giving it wholehearted praise. Mrs. Boyd was the director with Shelia Falterman, Charmaine, and Jackie Wilson handling the nursery and toddler classes. Ashley then entered pre-k at Bowling Green before entering the Franklinton School system where she excelled through graduation. She was active in Beta Club, National Honor Society, Student Council, Future Farmers of America, and 4-H Club; played on the tennis and basketball teams; and was a Demonette, all at Franklinton High School.
Meanwhile, Frances also had been busy in school - graduate school, acquiring her Master's degree from Southeastern Louisiana University when Ashley was three years old and earning her Plus 30 (Graduate Hours beyond her Master's) when Ashley was in the sixth grade.
In the summer of 2001, Frances moved first to Franklinton High School where she served as Assistant Principal and then, in 2002, to Enon Elementary School where she was Principal.
Five years later, in 2007, she became the Supervisor of Child Welfare for the Washington Parish School Board. And rising to the top like the proverbial cream, in January of 2020, Frances Varnado was named Superintendent of Washington Parish Schools, the culmination of her excellence in education. But in April of that same year, her beloved mother Florence Elizabeth Sanders Loftice (1952-2020) passed away. Frances was devastated by the loss. She reminisced, "My mom was my best friend. If you saw me, you saw my mom." The two were always together. Digressing, I completely comprehend; they were like my own mother and me. I, too, was inconsolable when I suddenly lost my mother in 2011.
Back to daughter Ashley, she had graduated from Franklinton High School in 2014 before matriculating at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she was the recipient of a Leadership Scholarship (a full scholarship) and was a Dixie Darling. Ashley graduated from USM in 2018 with her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and Special Education.
Present-day, she teaches at Franklinton Primary School - the apple never falls far from the tree. Becoming engaged in 2018 to Carley King, the son of Bro. Brent and Denise King - a wonderful family - Ashley and Carley were wed in April of 2019. Frances could not be more complimentary of her daughter's in-laws; they are wonderful to Ashley. And in June of 2020, Cohen Brent King was born. A baby with spina bifida, he was and is without a doubt the family's great blessing.
And Cohen was good reason for Frances to follow in her own grandmother Ayleen Yates Sanders's footsteps. Remember, Granny Ayleen retired from teaching and took care of Frances. So, Frances wanted to do just that, for Cohen. A trading of titles, if you will --- Superintendent for Super grandmother. Desiring the role her grandmother played in her own life, Frances retired from the school system, embracing the opportunity to become Cohen's caregiver. For her, it was the honor of a lifetime. Paraphrasing Sir Winston Churchill, "This is her finest hour."
So, it should come as no surprise that Cohen is thriving. First, at Jacobs Ladder Early Learning Center where James and Dana Jacobs generously made accommodations for him; next, at First Baptist PlaySchool where Director Kelly M. McElveen and staff let him be a little boy; and now, at Bowling Green where Katie Miller (PreK-3) and Tamica Estave (PreK-4) (interestingly, Frances taught Tamica at Pine) have made his life a joy.
•Stay tuned for next week's conclusion.
