Alice Francis

02/12/1931 — 08/22/2020

Doll Baby or Mother Francis, as she was so lovingly called by family and friends, was born Alice Campbell on February 12, 1931 in Clinton/Canton, Mississippi. She was the 3rd child of 13 born to James and Pairlee Campbell. Born and raised on a farm, she was no stranger to hard work and discipline.

In 1947, she married Eddie Lee Francis. At age 17, she gave birth to their firstborn, Doristeen, in 1948. Over the next few years, she birthed 5 more children: Louise (baby girl who died as a toddler), Baby boy (died at birth), Eddie, Linda Diane and Fernell-the baby.

Her husband went North in order to obtain work when their firstborn was about 2 years old. After he had secured the job, he sent for his wife and daughter. That is how Doll came to live in the North.

She pioneered various times throughout her many years of faithful service. She even had the privilege of attending the school for full time pioneer evangelizers twice.

Although she lived in the “city”, she was forever a country farm girl at heart. She loved everything about the country: the cows, the horses, the open field and even the hard work that came along with it. When someone would comment on her strength, she would proudly say, “It’s cause I was corn fed”.

Known for her tenacity and love of the ministry, she was always available whenever someone needed a partner for field service. She would go anytime because, as she would say with a slightly mischievous smile, “I don’t have a husband”.

She will be remembered for her striking, strong, scrappy (feisty) character. She was a fighter. Sadly, on August 22, 2020, she gave up the fight against mankind’s most formidable enemy, death. She was 89 years old.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her siblings: Sylvia Tolver, Ernest, Ray and LC Campbell.

She is survived by:

8 Siblings

Margarite “Margret” Campbell, Matthew Robert Campbell, James (Geneva) Campbell, Pairlee Denise “Sister” Campbell, Jesse (Cora) Campbell, Sylvester (Sheila) Campbell, Willie (Ethel) Campbell, Myrtist Campbell

4 Children

Doristeen (Jessie) Hinton, Eddie (Ruby) Francis, Linda Diane Lawson, and Fernell (Linda Marie) Francis

6 Grandchildren

Tina Johnson, David Hinton, Nikomas Francis, Jessie Lawson, Sontia Lawson and LaToya “Toy Baby” (Dwayne Jr.) Williamson; and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Her sweet smile will be missed by her family and the host of friends who adopted her as their own Mother and Grandmother.