INDIAN LAND, SC ~ Mrs. Frances Farmer Lodge, age 77, passed away Friday, May 1st, 2026. She was born February 1st, 1949 in Greeleyville South Carolina to the late Earl Farmer and Alvenia Hurst Farmer and was married on May 10, 1975 to the late Jesse Clements Lodge, Jr.

Mrs. Lodge is survived by her son Jesse “Jay” Lodge III, and his wife Tina, of Matthews, NC; two grandchildren, Carter Lodge and Madeline Lodge.

Mrs. Lodge was a devoted wife, a wonderful mother and an exceptional grandmother. After getting her under-graduate degree from Baptist College (later Charleston Southern University) and master’s degree from the College of Charleston, she spent over 40 years as both an elementary and middle school teacher in Manning and Charleston South Carolina. She was an excellent schoolteacher who always left a lasting, positive impact on her students’ lives as well as being recognized with the South Carolina Teacher of the Year award in 1992.

As a mother, she used her experience as a teacher to make learning fun for her son as he grew up and made sure that each memory from his childhood was a happy one. Anytime an interest was shown in her son’s life she encouraged it – from creating baseball card collecting clubs to helping find buried treasure at Hilton Head beaches; she did these things to support curiosity, imagination and learning. Every interest was seen as a way to show support. She made it a point for him to know he was loved every day of his life and that both kindness and understanding was something everyone should aim for.

As a grandmother, she dedicated her life to making sure her two grandchildren knew that they were special and loved without exception. Frances and Jesse moved to the Lancaster South Carolina area to be closer to their grandchildren; specifically, to have an active presence in their lives. Between simply babysitting on weekends, going on family vacations and attending volleyball/lacrosse/soccer/t-ball events, Frances and Jesse were ever-present in their daily lives. Frances always wanted her grandchildren to know they had both her love and support. As far as she was concerned, they were her everything in retirement and her wish was for them to be happy in their lives. Seeing them grow up strong, smart and healthy brought her joy every day.

In her final years, Mrs. Lodge still stayed true to herself and showed kindness and grace to everyone she encountered. She made a point to always help others and make them feel good, even when she herself was not feeling her best. It was as though her desire to make others feel better about themselves through simple acts of kindness (no matter how small) was enough to keep her going and to never give up.

Mrs. Lodge was preceded in death by both her parents and husband, and three brothers, Roy Farmer, Cecil Farmer and Earl Farmer Jr.

The Lodge family will host a drop-in Celebration of Life for both Mrs. Frances Lodge and Mr. Jesse Lodge Jr. on Friday, May 8, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Greeleyville Baptist Church, 136 Varner Ave., Greeleyville, South Carolina, in the church fellowship hall.