Frances Lewis Combs, 83, died on Monday, January 9, 2017 at Sanctuary Hospice in Tupelo, Mississippi.

She was a retired legal secretary in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi for nearly forty years. Mrs. Combs was a native of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and was the daughter of the late Carlos Lynn Lewis and Velma Rice Lewis of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and moved to Starkville from Fayetteville with her family in 1964. She was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church, M’Lady Garden Club, MSU Women’s Club, and numerous bridge clubs in Starkville.

She was the widow of Dr. Robert L. Combs Jr. and is survived by her children, Robert L. Combs, III (Beverly) of Louisville, Mississippi, daughters Connie Combs Templeton (Charles H. “Chip” Templeton) of Starkville, and Phyllis Combs Miller (Dr. Stanley L. Miller) of Knoxville, Tennessee; six grandchildren, Charles H. “Trey” Templeton, III (Laura), Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Combs Stoots, Kara Anne Templeton Herman (Justin), Jeremy Drew Miller (Kristin), Robert L. Combs, IV, and Christopher Luke Miller (Rachel); and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Helen Lewis Orler of Newnan, Georgia. She is predeceased by her sister, Lynna May Lewis, and brother, William C. Lewis.

Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, January 12, 2017 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. and then again on Friday, January 13, 2017 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Welch Funeral Home in Starkville, MS, with the funeral service immediately following in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Oddfellows Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Trey Templeton, Jeremy Miller, Lee Combs, and Luke Miller and her grandson-in-law, Justin Herman.

Memorials may be made to Grace Presbyterian Church, 525 Academy Road, Starkville, MS 39759, Sanctuary Hospice, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803, or to a favorite charity.