Lela "Fran" Frances Bullard
Lela "Fran" Bullard Obituary
Wilmington
THE FAMILY REQUESTS NO FLOWERS AND NO MEMORIAL TREES, SEE THE DONATION LOCATION AT THE END OF THE OBITUARY.
Lela Frances “Fran” Bullard, 77, of Wilmington, NC, passed peacefully on March 5, 2023 at the Lower Cape Fear Hospice LifeCare Center. She was joyful in the knowledge that she left with no love unspoken.
Fran was married to Jesse Fritz Bullard who preceded her in death. Fran is survived by daughters Angela Bullard, Jessica Bullard Swencki and son-in-law Akira Swencki, son Jason Bullard and daughter-in-law Shannon Bullard, and granddaughter Audra Bullard.
Fran was born on July 19, 1945 in Fayetteville, NC to parents James Robert Blanchard and Lela Viola Blanchard. She adored her 5 brothers and 2 sisters, their spouses, and her many nieces and nephews.
She co-owned and operated the Bullard Wholesale Meat Company with her husband Jesse. Fran also worked at the Fresenius Kidney Care Center in Fayetteville as a social work assistant. In retirement, Fran and Jesse owned and operated Quarter-Shy Farm You-Pick Muscadine Vineyard in Autryville, NC.
In a final dictated message to her friends and family, Fran stated, “I encourage everyone not to waste one single minute. Let go of the little things. Enjoy nature. Connect with people, really connect. Love deeply. It is not what we have but what we give.”
Fran will be remembered as a loving and generous daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend. She never met a stranger and always sought ways to lift others. One of her final requests to friends and family was to perform at least one random act of kindness a week. Her daughters are lovingly referring to this as the “Frandom" Acts of Kindness Challenge.
She embraced the outpouring of affection shared in her final days. As that was the only celebration of life she desired, no additional memorial services will be held.
Donations in her honor can be made to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401 or online at lifecare.org.
Services are entrusted to Butler Funeral Home, 6535 Clinton Road, Stedman, NC 28391.
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