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AMELIA – Frances Lee Banty Puglisi, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother was carried to her heavenly home early Sunday morning, Aug. 29, 2021. She peacefully passed at her home surrounded by her family.

Frances was an amazing woman with many different talents, gifts and love of the Lord, which she shared with her family, friends and anyone she met along her way. She loved children, so she and “Pug,” her husband were blessed to raise five children. Their family grew through the years with 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was happy to hold each new “little one” as they joined her family and her hugs and kisses will be missed by all.

Frances loved to work in the dirt. The beauty of her plantings could be seen at each home in which the Puglisis lived and on the table where they ate. She was a phenomenal cook, specializing in her fresh vegetables and meats, hot biscuits, sweet tea and delicious desserts. Some of her happiest days were those when the entire Puglisi family gathered together to celebrate birthdays, Christmas or Fourth of July. Frances is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, L.W. (Pug) Puglisi who passed in 2004, her parents, Richard and Mary Banty, of Capron and her much loved brother, David Banty of Capron.

Frances will be greatly missed by her five children, Cherry Puglisi Wilcox, Amelia, Virginia, Theresa Puglisi Black, Jacksonville North Carolina, Tony A. Puglisi, Greensboro, Georgia, Wayne Puglisi (Patty), Richmond, Virginia and Lee Puglisi Williams (Allen), Amelia. In addition, her presence will be missed by her grandchildren, Wayne Alan Wilcox, Matthew Wilcox (Jacinda), Travis Black (Jennifer), Angela Nobles (Larry), Kimberly Ambros (Jason), Alan Puglisi (Alli), Jessika Puglisi, Samantha Puglisi, Sara Puglisi, Drew Williams, Joshua Williams, Katie Williams and Lauren Williams in addition to her 12 great-grandchildren. She will be mourned by her sister-in-law, Betty Banty of Franklin and her nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at the Hillsman-Hix Funeral Home in Amelia from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the Amelia Baptist Church, 9101 Amelia St., Amelia, Virginia 23002 on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. A graveside service will be held in Capron at 3 p.m. on Sept. 2 at the Capron Cemetery at the Banty Family plot. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Amelia Baptist Church at the address listed above or the J.T. O’Neil Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 101, Amelia, VA 23002.