By Tyrone Willis

Frankie LaVerne YoungFrankie LaVerne Young was born on July 22, 1941, to Frank Thomas Young and Georgia Loretta Covington-Young who precedes her in death. She had six siblings; three sisters and three brothers:Ira Grace Williams (preceded her in death), (Frank), Clytie J. Sewall (Arthur), Nadine Thompson (preceded her in death) (Kenneth), Hartwell L. Young, Sr. (preceded her in death) (Shirley), Robert A. Young, and James A. Young (Arnette) all of Houston, Texas.

She has been a member of Sloan Memorial United Methodist Church since 1950 to 1993, then she rededicated her membership in October, 2018. She was involved in several ministries during her life as a member: Worship Leader, United Methodist Women, Adult Choir, and participated in Vacation Bible School.She was a member of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) Elease Knight Section – Houston, Texas. She held the position of Finance Chair. Her favorite time of year was Christmas time.

She created Frankie’s Angels during her tenure at Memorial Hermann Hospital – Medical Center. Frankie’s Angels was a choir that sang Christmas songs to the various departments and patients at Memorial Hermann Hospital. She attended Atherton Elementary, E. O. Smith Junior High and Phillis Senior High School and loved to participate in the Alumni activities. She earned a Licensed Vocational Nursing degree (LVN) from the Houston Community College System in February, 1973, and an Associate Degree in Administrative Records Technician (A.R.T.) also from the Houston Community System. She also worked briefly for Congresswoman Barbara Jordan.

She worked for 40 years in the health care area starting at St. Elizabeth Hospital in the Sisters of Charity System, for seventeen years. Also, she worked at Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Medical Center for fourteen years. She did coding for various hospitals in the Medical Center including Texas Children’s Hospital, St. Luke’s and Methodist Hospital. She had 3 children: including Dr. Janet Elaine Willis, Gregory Leon Simmons (Cheryl), and Phillip Jerome Simmons, 11 grandchildren, & 15 great-grandchildren.

She was a source of joy and positivity by praising and teaching her children a thing or two about the world through her experiences, telling her stories about her life and family history, so they would have a stronger sense of who they are. One special tradition granny made over the years was sending out birthday cards to remind them how special they were to her and how unique each one was in her heart. Proclamations were given to Ms. Frankie Young in her honor from the City of Houston, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee honored Ms. Young with a flag flown over the United States Capitol Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and was presented to her family on the date of her funeral. May she Rest In Peace.