Frances Seale-Elrod, a resident at The Villages of Murfreesboro since 2022, will celebrate her 100th birthday on Sunday, September 8th to become the latest Rutherford County centenarian.

She was born in Watonga, Oklahoma, in 1924 and was the second daughter of Francis and Caroline Draper. Frances went to Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, graduating with a B.S. in Education in May of 1948. During college, she worked in the library, bookstore and was a secretary in the Dean’s Office. She was also voted Phillipian Queen at the university.

After graduating, Frances spent time as a secretary and receptionist at a doctor’s office in Enid before moving to Amarillo, Texas. She was secretary at the high school there. Frances then took a job with Trailways Bus Systems as passenger clerk and secretary.

She married Robert Seale on November 19th, 1950, at University Christian Church in Enid, Oklahoma. Frances then moved to Nashville with her husband Robert and worked as a receptionist at First Baptist Church. She worked there until the birth of their first child. After her second child reached school age, Frances took a part time job at the church again as outreach clerk and an assistant secretary.

When both of her children were in college, she took a job at a law firm, working there from 1978 to 1987 when Frances and her husband retired. They then moved to Murfreesboro, enjoying time traveling, volunteering at church and celebrated the birth of their first grandchild. Robert passed away in 2012.

On March 13th, 2013, Frances married Duncan Elrod and enjoyed travel and large family events until Elrod passed away March 26th, 2021.