Pawleys Island: Frances Ward "Dookie" Davis Cromwell passed away Tuesday March 15, 2016 at Georgetown Memorial Hospital. She was born May 2, 1931 in Florence, South Carolina, the daughter of Russell E. Davis and Frances M. Ward Davis. Dookie lived with her grandparents, Captain and Mrs. Joshua J. Ward, at Oak Hill, a portion of Arcadia Plantation once owned by her great grandfather, until she was 10 years old. Her family then moved to Pawleys Creek. She attended Waverly School in Pawleys Island through the eighth grade. Her grandmother, Marie H. Lachicotte Ward and her aunt, Marie L. "Betty" Ward, were the teachers in the one room school. Dookie attended Winyah High School in Georgetown, S.C. where she graduated in 1949. She served on the debate team, marching band, newspaper staff, yearbook editor, representative to Girls State and student body president. Dookie worked at The Hammock Shop weaving hammock ends for the Pawleys Island hammocks invented by her grandfather, Capt. Josh. She also worked at Lachicottes Store on the corner of Highway 17 and the North Causeway and as a counselor at Camp St. Christopher on Seabrook Island. After high school, Dookie enrolled at Winthrop College in Rock Hill, S.C. and graduated in 1953 with honors with a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry. She was student body president, class president, newspaper editor, yearbook editor and involved with a number of other clubs and honoraries. Dookie went on to further her education at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond where she received a degree in Physical Therapy. She met Russell Cromwell at MCV and they were married at All Saints Waccamaw in Pawleys Island in 1955. They moved to Lexington, Kentucky and she started working at Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children where she was the chief physical therapist for 40 years until her retirement. She was also an adjunct professor of physical therapy at the University of Kentucky Frances was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Lexington where she served as confirmation teacher for 30 years, altar guild, Daughters of the King, vestry member, first woman senior warden, chairman of the acolytes, and small group leader. She was also active in the community serving as PTA president, Girl Scout Leader, and band booster president Russ and Frances retired to Pawleys Island in 1992 to the home on the creek at Pawleys Island where she grew up. They were members of All Saints Waccamaw where she served on the altar guild, archives committee, and attended Bible study. They later became members of Christ the King Church where she served on the vestry. Frances also attended services at The Abbey. She enjoyed reading, going in the creek, traveling, family history, her cats and her grandchildren. She was a member of the Georgetown Historical Society, the Rice Museum, the Georgetown Maritime Museum, the United Daughters of the Confederacy and a docent for the annual plantation tours sponsored by Prince George Winyah. In recent years, Frances had battled many serious health problems with grit and determination. Against the odds, she overcame obstacles which would have stopped a person with lesser resolve. She was a believer in the power of prayer and always kept her sense of humor despite the circumstances. Frances was preceded in death by an infant son. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Russell R. Cromwell, a daughter, Marie Cromwell Lindsay and her husband Buddy of Pawleys Island, a son, John Russell Cromwell and his wife Lisa of Lexington, Kentucky, a brother, Russell E. Davis, Jr. of Chelsea, Alabama, and seven grandchildren, Ross M. Lindsay, IV, Catharine A. Lindsay, Annelisa L. Williamson, Laura F. Lindsay, Sloan D. Cromwell, Beckett H. Cromwell, and W. Maclain Cromwell. A funeral service will be held on Monday, March 21, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the old church at All Saints Waccamaw, Pawleys Island. Sign a guest book at www.mayerfunerlhome.com In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Waverly School Renovation Fund at Christ the King/Grace Church 10172 Ocean Highway Pawleys Island, S.C. 29585 The Georgetown Chapel of Mayer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Funeral Home: Georgetown Chapel of Mayer Funeral Home 222 Saint James Street Georgetown, SC US 29440