For most people, an obituary is a beautiful and concise summation of their time in the land of the living. But for those rare souls like Frances Prince (known by her grandchildren as “Nano”), who recently passed away at the age of 105, an obituary cannot do justice to encapsulating the life of impact she lived and the legacy she has passed down.
Born on Dec. 16, 1919, just months after the “Red Summer of 1919,” when white domestic terrorism against Black people and communities was at its peak, this Pelican, Louisiana native made her transition in Houston, her home since 1945, on Oct 30, 2025.
Defined by love, patience, and faith
From the perspectives of those who knew and loved her best, Frances “Nano” Prince lived her 105 years anchored in love, faith, resilience, and a deep sense of community purpose.
Her youngest son, Lloyd (69)—one of her 11 children and a twin to the late Floyd Prince—described her simply yet powerfully as an “excellent listener” and someone who was unfailingly patient.
Granddaughter Shannette Prince, entrepreneur and owner of Africa On My Back, echoed this sentiment, remembering her as “extremely loving… patient and witty,” emphasizing that Nano possessed a sharp, gentle humor that left its imprint on all who encountered her.
Her patience and wit were grounded in a profound spiritual compass. Lloyd shared that no matter the circumstances, Nano would ask herself, “What would God say?” Even in moments of hardship or conflict, Lloyd said, “she would always focus on resolution and a positive way, where it wouldn’t be hopelessness or helplessness. She always made room for progress and hope in our challenges, in our journeys.”
At the core of her belief system was a simple yet transcendent guiding principle: Love God and love people. Lloyd recalled that she held firmly to loving all of God’s creation, even when human behavior made that difficult: “Not getting caught up in humanity’s ugliness, but looking forward to whatever God would have for us.”
A creative spirit
Nano loved deeply and lived fully.
“My grandmother was a singer,” Shannette said.
Whether at church or community musical performances, singing was her joy and often her sanctuary. But her creativity didn’t end there.
“She, in her own right, was a playwright… she would put on plays at the ‘Prince Jam,’ full-fledged plays at the Prince Compound.”
Those values of creativity, faith, and love flowed into the Prince Compound itself.
The Prince Compound
Located at 3000 Jensen Drive in Houston’s Greater Fifth Ward, the Prince Compound functioned as both a family hub and a community lifeline. Lloyd described the dream behind it: A safe space for neighborhood children who were otherwise surrounded by hazards—“bicycle rims on the telephone poles and glass all in the street.”
That reality prompted a larger vision than just a boxing gym (Prince Gym) built by his nephew, James Prince.
“We had the land,” he said, and soon plans expanded to include a recreation center. “In our African dialect, we translate recreation to RE-creation in Ungawa.”
This philosophy of transforming “nothing into something” was embedded in the family’s generational DNA.
“People like Nano and Momo… could look for peace, love, and joy,” Lloyd reflected.
In a country shaped by anti-Black hatred, the family’s elders insisted on seeking harmony and refusing “to buy the lie that hopelessness is our only choice.” This worldview fortified them against external forces.
“We don’t choose to worry about what [president] Chump (Donald Trump) and the rest of his clan have to say,” Lloyd noted, “when we know that our destiny is embodied in what our creator says versus what the haters say.”
Community warrior and neighborhood influencer
Nano embodied that destiny through action. She was a community warrior who responded directly to the challenges of integration in Houston.
Before her children entered second grade in integrated schools, she had never driven a car. But knowing they would face a hostile world, she learned. Then, she utilized that skill to establish a school bus service and business, known as the Prince & Sons Bus Service.
“She made herself available on a daily basis to be a witness to the practice of community… united we stand, divided we fall,” Lloyd explained.
For 27 years, she transported children throughout the neighborhood, becoming a beloved maternal figure to many.
“My grandmother was a business owner,” Shannette said, noting how many in the family followed that path.
Her son Cameron, a student at HSPVA, is carrying forward Nano’s creative lineage, dreaming of screenwriting just as his great-grandmother once crafted plays. This, Shannette emphasized, is the real meaning of generational wealth; not money, but values, principles, and continuity of purpose.
Warrior-Queen legacy rooted in resilience
Nano’s long life reflected a legacy of fortitude passed down from her own ancestors, including her great-grandfather, Floyd Washington, a member of the 76th Colored Troops during what Lloyd calls the “Un-Civil” War.
“My mother was a warrior queen who had that can-do will-do spirit,” Lloyd said.
She lived through pandemics, social upheavals, and the shifting tides of American history, always rejecting what Lloyd called the “‘I don’t wanna, I ain’t gonna’ virus.” She chose life, resilience, and freedom at every turn.
Frances Prince lived 105 years, not merely existing but living—singing, creating, building, nurturing, and leading. She lived well. And because she did, generations continue to rise.
Family in mourning
Frances was united in marriage to her devoted husband, Earnest Prince Jr., who preceded her in death. Together, they built a strong, faith-filled family whose love and values continue to inspire generations.
She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her loving children: Donald (Gwen), Alice Faye (Duria), Joe (LaWaynda), Russell, Michael (Sandra), and Lloyd. She was preceded in death by her beloved sons: Woody, Leon, Earnest III, Floyd, and Larry.
Frances also leaves to cherish her memory one brother-in-law, George Prince Sr., and beloved sisters-in-law Hattie Chatmon, Earlie Mae Hunter, and Shirley Prince.
