Frances Virginia Gandy Brown was born on March 17, 1943 to the union of Amos Lee Gandy and Ruby Mae James Gandy.  Along with her twin sister, Fredericka, she was the first of eight girls.  Both parents and Sisters Fredericka and Amie preceded her in death, as well as her husband, Tommy Brown.

Frances was educated in the East St. Louis School District 189 and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.  She was a member of the June 1960 graduating class of Lincoln High.  She was employed by the United States Post Office in East St. Louis, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri for nearly 40 years.

Since early childhood, Frances was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and was a Sunday School teacher for the preschoolers who loved her very much.  Frances also worked for years in the church's Pantry outreach program.  She was a Soprano with the Voices of Zion choir at Mt. Zion.  Frances remained an active member of Mt. Zion until her death.

Frances married Tommy Brown in 1964.  She was the proud mother of three children.

Frances Virginia Gandy Brown passed on September 12, 2022 after a brief illness.  She leaves to mourn her three children:  Terrance Leon (Maria) Brown, Keith Ladell. Brown, and Keisha Lynne Brown, all of Belleville, Illinois; four grandchildren, Kaylon Xavier Brown, Jordan Immanuel Brown, Aria Imani Brown, and Harrison Micah Napier; five sisters, Jacqueline F. Johnson, Cynthia J. Gandy, Sharon J. Ward, Winifred D. Gandy and Charmyn T. Gandy; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.