Winzer, Frances Nunnally, approximately 1892-1982

Biography

In June, 1907, Samuel Clemens travelled to England, where he was to receive an honorary degree from Oxford University. One of his shipmates for the Atlantic crossing was Frances (Nunnally) Winzer (c. 1892-1982), the daughter of J. H. Nunnally, an Atlanta candy manufacturer. The teenaged schoolgirl and the 71-year-old author became acquainted and, discovering that they were staying in the same London hotel, Clemens escorted the young girl he called Francesca on visits and social calls. Back in the United States, their friendship continued and Frances became one of several honorary grandchildren to Clemens, who had lamented that he had reached the grandfather stage of life without grandchildren of his own.

Two years after the friendship began, Frances asked Clemens to speak at her graduation. He agreed and in June, 1909, left his Redding, Connecticut, home and journeyed to Catonsville, Maryland, to be the commencement speaker at St. Timothy's school for young women. His address included this advice (much quoted in the contemporary press) to the young ladies: Don't smoke, drink, or marry -- that is, to excess. While in Maryland, Clemens for the first time suffered the chest pains of the heart ailment that would result in his death less than a year later on April 21, 1910, at the age of 74. The affectionate correspondence between Clemens and his young friend continued until shortly before his death.