Why did Frances leave Dana Sue money in Sweet Magnolias Season 3? Details explored

Netflix’s comfort show, Sweet Magnolias, just released season 4 on February 6, 2025, which garnered much love and appreciation from the fans. Created by Sheryl J. Anderson, the show follows three best friends, Maddie Townsend, played by JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Dana Sue Sullivan, portrayed by Brooke Elliott, and Helen Decatur, played by Heather Headley, as they navigate their lives in a small town, Serenity, in North Carolina.

The show is based on Sherryl Woods's novel series of the same name. Season 4 follows more of the friction and disagreements that the long-time friends were dealing with in Season 3. Other than challenges, season 3 also delivered some good news for the friends, such as Dana Sue’s renewal of wedding vows with her estranged husband Ronnie Sullivan, played by Brandon Quinn. Other than that, Brooke Elliott’s Dana Sue also received a huge check from Ms. Frances (Cindy Karr) as a testament to her love for Dana Sue.

Continue to read to learn more about why Frances left Dana Sue money in Sweet Magnolias Season 3.

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Why did Frances leave Dana Sue money?

Season 3 of Sweet Magnolias saw the trio face many new challenges, including conflicts within their friendships. However, many new hopeful developments took place in the lives of the magnolias.

As previously mentioned, Brooke Elliott’s Dana Sue received a surprise from Ms. Frances. Other than getting the restaurant, the kind lady also left a huge check for Dana Sue. As revealed later, Ms. Frances was in love with Dana Sue’s father, Patrick, but didn’t want to cause any tension between him and Dana Sue’s mother, so she kept her feelings to herself.

However, she considered and loved Dana Sue as her own daughter and trusted that she would do something good with the money.

Dana Sue uses the money to open a foundation, Magnolia Community Foundation, to continue Ms. Frances’s legacy. She also keeps aside an amount from the money to send her daughter Annie, played by Anneliese Judge, to a college of her choice.

Dana Sue and her husband Ronnie also give a little money from it to his sister Kathy, portrayed by Wynn Everett, so that she can leave Serenity.

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More about Sweet Magnolias Season 3

Apart from Dana Sue, many new things happened with the other magnolias as well in season 3 of Sweet Magnolias.

JoAnna Garcia Swisher’s Maddie Townsend starts to embrace her creative side in season 3 as she joins drawing classes. The actress, during the interview with Netflix, shared how season 3 was a journey of personal growth and introspection. She added:

"The dust was settling. She jumped into this new relationship. There were issues there. Her children, there was chaos there. There was a lot of forgiveness that needed to happen with [her husband’s former mistress] Noreen [Jamie Lynn Spears]. But then at the end of the day, Maddie’s so great about just taking care of it and surviving and getting through it and never really thinking about, ‘What’s really going on here?'"

On the other hand, Heather Headley’s Helen Decatur reunites with Ryan, played by Michael Shenefelt.

Sweet Magnolias season 4 takes off from where it left in season 3 and unveils new beginnings, new conflicts, and celebrations.

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Catch all four seasons of Sweet Magnolias on Netflix.