Nelson Francis

Nelson Francis, age 79, of 340 Oliver Edwards Road, Jonesborough, Tennessee, died Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at his residence. The son of the late Thomas G. Francis and Hattie Forbes Francis, Mr. Francis was born in Buladean, North Carolina but lived almost all of this life in Washington County, Tennessee. He was raised by his father and his wife, Dovie Bowman Francis. Mr. Francis was a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He was a member of Jonesborough United Methodist Church. In addition to his parents, Mr. Francis was preceded in death by three brothers, Thurman, Paul and Thomas, Jr. and a sister, Mollie Mooney. He is survived by his wife, Stella Simerly Francis, one daughter, Janie Ruth Miller and her husband John J. Miller, Jr. of Spruce Pine, North Carolina; three brothers, Jack, William and Joe Francis, all of Maryland; one sister, Dollie Leppo, also of Maryland; three grandchildren, John J. Miller III, of Raleigh, North Carolina, Jeanna Waldroup, of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, Julie Lee of Charlotte, North Carolina; three aunts, Maude Hamshire, Ruth Street and Ruby Forbes, all of Elizabethton; six great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mr. Francis will be held at Morris-Baker Funeral Home South Chapel on Thursday, September 14th at 8:00 PM. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:00 until 8:00 PM. Dr. Brad Scott will lead the brief prayer service that had been requested by Mr. Francis. Graveside services and burial will be at the US National Cemetery at 1:00 PM on Friday with Rev. Lennie Smith officiating. Military honors will be conducted by Charles DeWitt Byrd Chapter 3382 of Veterans of Foreign Wars. Family and friends are asked to meet at the graveside. For those who wish, the family requests, in lieu of flowers, that contributions be made to Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 11971 South US Hwy 19E, Spruce Pine, North Carolina 28707 or to the building fund at Jonesborough United Methodist Church, 211 W. Main Street P.O. Box 115, Jonesborough, TN 37659.