Frances Scott Pate Hamby died peacefully in hospice care on September 1, 2021 after a brief illness from an infection. She was 94 years old. Frances was born in Rockville, MD, on August 4, 1927. She was the daughter of William Albert Pate, Jr., and Frances Scott Veirs. Frances met her husband, Louis Laval Hamby, Jr., while filling in as a movie theater ticket teller to help a friend. They were married in November, 1948, and moved to Washington, DC, where she lived most of her life. They enjoyed 48 happy years of marriage. Frances began her career in the statistical section of the Public Health System. She worked there for 5 years until 1951 when she took a 10 year maternity leave until her youngest of three children was school age. After that, Frances became a beloved kindergarten teacher at St. Patrick's Episcopal Day school where she taught for 25 yrs. In 1986, she left to start a new school called Washington Episcopal School (WES) where she taught for 18 yrs. and then continued part time work in the development office. She participated in the design of the new school building and was very successful in calling people and soliciting donations in the annual fund-raising drive she put together during her later years, working in the development office. Frances loved to spend the summers and entertain in the family beach house on Pawleys Island, SC. Frances began every morning by walking on the beach at sunrise, collecting shells and stopping to talk to all the people she knew from her daily walks. Frances volunteered at her church, All Saints Episcopal Church in Chevy Chase, MD, and at the Friendship Place homeless shelter. The facts of her life can't begin to describe what a remarkable person Frances was. She was always caring for other people. You could always count on her to volunteer, lend a hand and help out. She never asked for or wanted any help herself. She never complained and always made the best of every situation. She was a lot of fun to be with. She ran the household, raised three children and held a full time job. She preferred the naughty children in her kindergarten classes because they had spunk, just like herself. She was particular about how to set a table, make a bed and iron clothes. She liked family picnics on Sunday drives to explore new places. She and Louis would veer off the road to explore someplace if it looked interesting. She was an avid reader. She was always physically fit. She was an accomplished figure skater and a basketball coach. She played dodge ball in the street with her children and read to them before dinner. She loved to sew and made her own clothes and clothes for her daughters. She enjoyed lasting friendships with her neighbors in Washington, DC, and Pawleys Island, SC. In her later years, she and Louis enjoyed cruising all over the world. They enjoyed relaxing by the pool and meeting new people. She loved ice cream and roller coasters. When others screamed, she laughed at the scary parts in "Jaws". She was devoted to her ginger cat, Peter and he was devoted to her. She was out raking leaves in the fall well into her late 80s. When her neighbors asked why, she replied that she enjoyed it.She loved her cocktail before dinner.She was fiercely independent. She wanted to live her life on her terms. She didn't think of herself as old and that was probably the secret to her longevity. She was greatly loved by her family and friends. She is predeceased by her husband, Louis Laval Hamby, Jr., and by her daughter, Sarah Allan Hamby. She is survived by her son, Louis Laval Hamby III, and his wife, Jennie Bateson Hamby, her daughter Suzanne Hamby Berardinelli and her husband, Caesar Berardinelli, her grandson, Allan Scott Hamby, and his wife, Jenny Alexsandra Hamby, her granddaughter, Louisa Laval Hamby, and by her great grandchildren, Wyatt Scott Hamby and Sabrina Elise Hamby. You can read more about her life in Washington at https://www.historicchevychasedc.org/oral-histories/frances-hamby/ Donations can be made to the St. George's Society Fund that will be donated to the school library at WES in memory of Frances Hamby. Put St. George's in the subject line and Frances Hamby's name to make sure it goes to the right place. The addresses for all are: Text: SGFUND to 41444 Online: https://app.mobilecause.com/f/3h9y/n?vid=l9bnb Mail checks to: Washington Episcopal School 5600 Little Falls Parkway Bethesda, MD 20816 The funeral and burial will be three o'clock, Friday, September 10, 2021 at Old All Saints Church Waccamaw in Pawleys Island, SC. The Georgetown Chapel of Mayer Funeral Home is assisting the family: www.mayerfuneralhome.com