Frances was born in Columbus County to the late Donald Jernigan and Kathleen Norris Jernigan on November 9, 1946. She grew up with one brother, Darrell, to whom she is still affectionately known as “sis.”
Frances spent the majority of her life in North Carolina, and spent one summer living with her aunt in Homestead, Florida, where she met William Robert “Bill” Cierpiot. Thepair was married in St. Louis, Missouri on July 30, 1966. While in Missouri, she worked
at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft on the Gemini 10 and 12 Spacecraft Projects.Frances and her family returned to North Carolina in 1971, where she worked various jobs, maintained a garden, and enjoyed hours of fishing. Her favorite fishing buddies included Bill, her Grandma Rose and her grandmother’s sisters. After moving to Oak
Island, NC in 1980, she played ladies softball, was a member of the OKI Elk’s Lodge,and attended Brunswick Community College to obtain her LPN license. In her own words, “I feel that God’s will for my life was to take care of other people.” She faithfully took care of her husband, Bill, until he passed in July of 1996. She remarried in 2011, to James Rouse, whom she also took care of until his passing in 2020.Outside of taking care of others, Frances was equally as passionate about her beloved pets, Peppi, Cinnamon, Katie, and Cotton, and about her faith. She was a long standing
member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Bolivia, and loved sharing her faith with anyone she met.
She is survived by two children, Michael Cierpiot and wife Robin of Bolivia, and Michele Dixon and husband Daniel of Bolivia; five grandchildren, Alyssa Cierpiot, Conner Cierpiot, Rebecca Abbott, Garrett Dixon, and Carmen Dixon; a brother, Darrell Jernigan
and wife Jackie of Albemarle, NC, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday July 17, 2026 at eleven o’clock in the morning at Mt. Olive Baptist Church with Reverend Anthony Clemmons officiating.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.
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