Frances Jacqueline Erwin, the steadfast matriarch and "Rock" of her family, passed away peacefully on April 6, 2026, joining the loved ones who went before her.

Born in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1939 to Charles Rembert Powell and Estelle May Powell, Frances grew up with a spirited heart and a competitive edge. A proud daughter of Columbia, she spent her youth navigating the halls of local schools and making her mark on the basketball court. Her love for team sports began there, a passion that would define much of her life's journey.

Life took a pivotal turn when she married James W. Erwin. The couple moved to Blum, Texas, to take over the family's legacy—the local grocery and drug store. It was in the small-town heart of Blum that Frances began her greatest work: raising her four sons, Michael, Matt, Mark, and Monte.

In 1970, the family moved to Wallis, Texas and in 1976 to Alvin, Texas, which would remain her home for the rest of her life. Frances was a trailblazer in the local workforce; starting as a bookkeeper for Amoco Chemicals in the late 1970s, she eventually shattered glass ceilings as one of the first female operators at the Chocolate Bayou Plant.

Frances's life was punctuated by the sound of cheering crowds. She was the ultimate "super-fan" for her four boys, all of whom excelled in athletics. She rarely missed a game, a tradition of devotion that she carried forward for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her loyalty to Texas sports was legendary, particularly her love for the Houston Astros and the Houston Rockets. Following her retirement, she even turned her passion into a second career by working for the Astros organization.

More than just a sports fan, Frances was a teacher of life. She instilled the core values of honesty, hard work, open-mindedness, and respect into every generation of her family. To her 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, she was affectionately known as "Maw-Maw," the woman whose strength held the family together through every storm.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Estelle Powell; her beloved sister and best friend, Joanne Witherspoon; and her brothers, Charles Powell and Tommy Powell. She is survived by her four sons: Michael A. Erwin, James M. Erwin and wife Aryn, Mark P. Erwin and wife Sherri and Monte Erwin. Her legacy also lives on through her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as a host of loving cousins, nieces, and nephews spanning from Texas to South Carolina.

Frances J. Erwin – South Carolina sweet and Texas strong!