Frances Merle Hamby, age 87, of Turtletown, TN, passed away Sunday, July 30, 2017. Mrs. Hamby was born in Monroe County, TN to the late John Milton and Ada Mae Stiles Edwards. She was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and was an active member in the WMU. She had worked at Levi Strauss as a seamstress. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband whom she married in 1947, James Hamby. She is also preceded in death by her granddaughter, Bethany Frances Pate.She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Vicki (Richard) Pate of Cleveland, TN, Virginia (Mike) Whitlow of Turtletown, TN; five grandchildren, Dwayne Whitlow, Tracy Griffith, James Michael Whitlow, Brad Pate and Emily Pate; three great-grandchildren, Jacob Whitlow, Ben Griffith and Hailey Griffith. Many other relatives and friends survive.Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. from the Akins of Copperhill Chapel with Rev. G.W. Mathis and Pastor Kenny Housley officiating. Music will be by Ed Vest and Emily Pate. Pallbearers include Dwayne Whitlow, James Whitlow, Brad Pate, Richard Pate, Charles Pate, Mike Sullivan, Glen Hughes, Randy Collins, Eric Griffith and Mike Whitlow. Interment will follow Thursday, August 3,2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the Zion Hill Baptist Church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday evening prior to the service from 5:00 p.m. until the service hour of 7:00 p.m. Flowers will be accepted, also memorial contributions may be sent online to the St.Jude Childrens Hospital at www.st.judes.org. Condolences to the family may be sent online to www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Copperhill in charge of the arrangements. . SERVICES Funeral Service Wednesday, August 2, 2017 7:00 PM Akins Funeral Home - Copperhill 823 Ocoee Street Copperhill, Tennessee 37317