Frances Kleckley

Francie Weatherly Kleckley was born and raised in Bennettsville, the county seat of Marlboro County in the rural northeastern corner of South Carolina. After studying at Clemson University, Francie was lured away by a tennis scholarship at Francis Marion University, where she graduated in 1981.

Francie has spent her adult life in Lexington County, where she’s now retired from a 36-year career as a civil servant for the United States Department of Treasury. She rose in the ranks while balancing the demands of a single mother to two children.

Francie’s son Allen graduated from Lexington High School and is an avid hunter, shrimper, and outdoorsman in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Francie lost her beloved daughter, Kathryn, to a breast cancer-related illness two years ago. Kathryn was 36 years old and a graduate of Presbyterian College. Francie still loves to swing a tennis racquet. She and her life partner Nekki Shutt live in the Lake Murray community and love to travel and entertain family and friends.

While Francie aims to be sworn in as Senator Kleckley in January 2025, Francie’s favorite title will always be “Kitty” to her granddaughter Collins.