- Date Of Birth: April 27, 1924
- Date Of Death: October 2, 2017
- State: Illinois
Geraldine Elizabeth Francis, nee Smith, 93, of O’Fallon, IL, formerly of Hampton, VA passed away on Monday, October 2nd, 2017 at home with her family by her side. Geraldine was born on April 27th, 1924 in Hampton, VA. She was a 60 plus year member of Queens Street Baptist Church in Hampton, VA, serving as Vice President of the Star Circle and member of the Senior Choir. Geraldine had a love of life and thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people. When she moved to O’Fallon she joined New Life in Christ Interdenominational Church in Lebanon, IL and became a Church Greeter.
She loved spending time at the O’Fallon Township Senior Center where you could always find her socializing and enjoying people. She will be remembered as an outspoken lady with a genuine smile and laughter who had a love for her family, friends, and life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Virginia Smith, nee Jones; husband, Thomas “Big T” E. Francis Sr.; two sisters, Viola Myrtie Blizzard, baby Ellen Smith; five brothers, Samuel “Badie” Smith Jr., James “Shorty” Smith, Harvey “Tank” Smith, John “Ping Pong” Smith, baby Eugene Smith; and son, Thomas “Little T” E. Francis, Jr.
She is survived by three children, Bernard Francis of Riverside, CA, Zachary Francis of Belleville, IL, Deborah (Terry J. Sr.) Houston of O’Fallon, IL; one brother, Douglas “Ditty Wit” (Anne) Smith of Palm Coast, FL; one sister-in-law, Lou Smith of Riverside, CA; five grandchildren, Ronesha (John) Francis McSwain, Kelena Francis, Thomas J. Houston, Terry J. Houston Jr., Tiffany D. Houston; three great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and extended family members.
