Obituary: Frances Gillman Saperstein

Frances Gillman Saperstein, age 96, passed away on Jan. 9, 2024.

Frances was born on Dec. 28, 1927, at the original Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Ga. She was the second of four children born to Sol and Rebecca Bock Gillman.

Frances graduated from Girls High and remained friends with many of her classmates throughout her life.

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For over 50 years she was married to the love of her life, Mendel Saperstein. Both Atlanta natives, they had three children, Joy, Jill and Jan.

Through the years, Frances served as a room mother, Girl Scout leader, a member of Hadassah and a lifelong member of the Ahavath Achim Synagogue. As a volunteer, she typed many books and documents for the Braille Association. Her needlework skills were such that she was chosen to needlepoint a Torah cover for the A.A. Synagogue’s Centennial Celebration.

After raising her children, Frances embarked on a successful career as an Executive Assistant within the First National Bank of Atlanta, where she was promoted to the top Executive Assistant role, serving as a trusted confidant to the Chairman of the Bank. Having earned that position of trust she stayed at the top of her profession for years, serving future CEO’s and Presidents of First National’s many successor banks.

Most important to Frances was her family, and she especially loved being a grandmother. She is survived by her two daughters, Joy (Richard) Salenfriend and Jill (David) Brown, and son, Jan (Lynn) Saperstein; grandchildren, Kelsey and Eddie Womeldorf, Hilary and Marc Goldberg, Alex Brown, and Raleigh and Brent Wasser; great-grandchildren, Mabry Womeldorf, Jake Goldberg, Harrison Goldberg, June Wasser, and Reese Goldberg. She was predeceased by her husband, Mendel Saperstein, grandson, Tyler Brown, sister, Sibyl Gillman, and brothers, Bernard Gillman and Alan Gillman.

Contributions in honor of France’s memory can be made to the William Breman Jewish Home, the Weinstein Hospice, the Braille Institute, or to a charity of one’s choice.

Frances leaves behind a legacy of kindness, friendship, and love of family. She will be deeply missed. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.