Frankie Mae Holliday Bodden
I GOT THINGS TO DO! Was a constant quote of
Frankie H. Bodden. We can imagine this is what she said after being told she didn’t have enough nursing experience to be hired at Kennedy VA Hospital. She was hired at John Gaston Hospital. Several months later she reapplied and was hired in 1953; making her a trailblazer, as the first African American registered nurse hired at Kennedy VA Hospital.
Frankie H. Bodden, was born in Memphis, TN on
December 10, 1921, the first daughter and second child of eight children born to David Holliday and
Daisy Russell Holliday. On August 14, 2023 the
Angel of Peace called Frankie to her eternal home and she transitioned, while under hospice care at The Pointe at Kirby Gate, after a long battle with dementia. She was 101.
After graduating from Manassas High School in 1940, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia (I GOT THINGS TO DO) and graduated from Grady Hospital – Municipal Training School, as a registered nurse in 1944. After graduation, Frankie moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, attending University of Michigan for graduate studies. She worked at various hospitals, prior to returning to Memphis.
A few years after being hired at Kennedy VA Hospital, Frankie met and married Ira S. Bodden, owner of Bodden Tailoring Company, Inc. They loved to travel to continents and countries such as Africa, Egypt and Europe. The couple didn’t have children and they would raise her niece, Jean Holliday Brady during Jean’s junior high and high school years.
I GOT THINGS TO DO -- Another first, she was a founding member of the 1922 R.N. (Registered Nurses) Club, Inc. She hosted dinners and helped plan events to raise Scholarship funds. She encouraged LPNS to apply for scholarships with the Club.
In 1982, Frankie retired from the VA Hospital. She was a patron member of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Memphis Art Gallery and loved listening to jazz. She could usually be found swimming and doing water exercise at the YMCA Whitehaven, or Orange Mound Center Pool and lastly at the Raymond Skinner Pool, where she swam two days a week until her health prevented her from doing so at the age of 93.
At 101, Mrs. Bodden was the longest attending member of Friendship Baptist Church-klondike, Rev. Walter J. Green, Sr. Pastor. She was a member of the Missionary Ministry and Mother Board. She attended church school and church service every Sunday.
Frankie was preceded in death by her husband, Ira. S. Bodden, and her siblings, Elbert, Clarence, Lawrence, Louise, Celia, Cora and Peggy. She is survived by her devoted caregivers nieces, Catina B. Turner, Rhoda Holliday-gillespie and nephew Samuel Wilbert Turner. She also leaves nieces Jean H. Brady, Wanda M. Holliday and a host of other nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews; loving caregivers Gladys, Princess, Terry, Dorothy, Minnie, Delores, Cindy, and friends.
Frankie’s celebration of life will be held Monday, August 21, 2023 at 11:00 AM, with viewing from 10AM-11AM at Friendship Baptist Church-klondike, 1355 Vollintine Ave., Memphis, TN 38107. Arrangements entrusted to
R.S. Lewis and Sons Funeral Home, LLC. 2944 Walnut Grove Road, Memphis, TN 38111. Interment immediately following the Service at Elmwood Cemetery, 824 Dudley Street, Memphis, TN 38104-6005.