Patricia Francis

The late Reverend Patricia A. Francis was born on October 26, 1958 in St. Croix, the largest of the three islands comprising the United States Virgin Islands.  Her parents were Mr. Leroy A. Francis and Mrs. Cynthia Francis May-Cole.  She departed the earthly life on November 14, 2020 at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.   

Known affectionately as “Patsy” to her family and friends, she loved her God, her family, her Church family, and cooking.  Patsy had a keen mind, a warm personality, a generous heart, and a giving spirit.  Like her siblings, she was taught by her father that “You do not have problems, you have issues to be addressed.” She lived by these words with a firm trust in God and saw life as a wonderful adventure.  Every challenge was an opportunity for something to be addressed.

Reverend Francis’ primary and secondary education was in the United States Virgin Islands and on the U.S. mainland.  She was trained in Accounting and International Banking, but cooking was always her passion.  In New York, she pursued a degree in culinary studies.  As an Executive Chef and Caterer, she complemented her culinary arts skills with training as a floral designer, cake decorator and chocolatier.

As her walk with her God deepened, she was encouraged by several ordained ministers to answer the call of a life of service to the Highest Power.  Instead, like Jonah, she ran the other way.  When she finally stopped running and spoke to God from the recesses of her heart, she said that she pleaded: “If You cannot be to me the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, then please leave me alone.  I am tired of other people’s gods; they leave me empty and hollow inside.”

She earned a bachelor’s degree at Luther Rice College and Seminary and was ordained in 1995.  She served in several Church positions which included Sexton, Sunday School Teacher, Superintendent and Sacristan.  She was the Chief Operating Apostle and Presiding Bishop of the United International Federation of Christian Churches and Ministries, Inc.  She was also the Founding Apostle of Multitudes Inc., whose mission is aiding the displaced, marginalized, and homeless, and the Mountain Tops for Jesus Ministries, Inc., an organization devoted to the spiritual and physical healing of clergy members and lay leaders.

God blessed her with many gifts, some of which she used as a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and writer.  Prior to accepting her call to the Ministry, she and her sister established, in collaboration with the Partnership for the Homeless, a homeless shelter and outreach program at St. Matthew’s Parish in Brooklyn, New York in response to a challenge to churches from Mayor Ed Koch.  From 2004 to 2008, she served as a member of President George W. Bush’s Business Advisory Council, a membership she credited as “Being only God”, because she was a registered Democrat and grew up in a household where the other Party was never mentioned.

Chief Apostle Francis spent the last 25 years of her life in dedicated service to her Maker.  She often said that: “Without God all of the credentials are just meaningless stuff.”  She passionately believed that “Without God, one is hopelessly lost.”  She believed that Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came that we might have life and have it more abundantly, and she lived accordingly.  On November 14, 2020, God responded, as He did when she first pleaded with Him, with outstretched arms of love, mercy, grace, and compassion.

Reverend Francis is survived by her adopted daughter, Ms. Tamara Singleton, her granddaughter, Miss Abigail Singleton, her siblings: Mr. Aubrey Francis, Mrs. Bernice Francis Garcia, Ms. Joyce Francis, and Mr. Leroy Francis.

Left to mourn her passing are her extended family of Mr. Llewelyn Solomon, Mrs. Janet Solomon, Mrs. Shawna Washington, Mr. Demond McKinney, Ms. Sarah Black, Mr. Benjamin Black, and Master Benjamin Black Jr., 17 nieces and nephews:  Mr. Wade Ensley, Mr. Gregory Garcia, Mr. Neil Ensley, Ms. Eileen Francis, Ms. Grace Garcia McCall, Mrs. Germaine Garcia Andrews, Ms. Edna Francis, Mr. Leroy Francis Jr, Mr. Walter Francis, Mr. Jordan Sartor-Francis, Mr. Trent Francis, Mr. Christopher Echavarria, Ms. Laila Hancock-Francis, Ms. Lauren Sheppard, Miss Leona Francis, Miss Lynsley Francis, 14 great-nieces and nephews, nine great-great-nieces and nephews, her large Church family and many friends, including her Special Mothers, Mother Shirley Carter, and Mother Ethel Newton. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and two siblings, Mrs. Cedelle Ensley, and Mr. David Francis.

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