Helen Francis
Helen Virginia Strange Francis, 88, of Union City passed away Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at her home.
Visitation will be Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 10 a.m.-noon at White-Ranson Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Obion County Memorial Gardens.
J.P. Prather, Ethan Rogers, Jacob Prather, Kyle Meek, and Tommy Rogers will serve as pallbearers.
Mrs. Francis was born in Cherry Valley, Ark., on July 30, 1936, to the late Tracy Roy Strange and the late Eunice “Inez” Mink Strange. She married Mr. George “Gary” Francis on Aug. 24, 1957, in Memphis. After almost 67 years of marriage, he preceded her in death on July 26, 2024. She worked as a secretary for the old Miles Elementary School and was a member of First Baptist Church in Union City.
She is survived by two daughters, Teri Francis Prather and husband, James, of Union City and Dawn Francis Murphy and husband, Greg, of Fredericksburg, Va.; son, Robin Francis of Union City; eight grandchildren, Shannon Rogers, Kyle L. Meek, Jessica LaPorte, Mary Beth Vise, Jacob Prather, Aja Francis, Megan Papaleo and Peyton Vuolo; six great-grandchildren, Ethan Roger, Weston Vise, Blaire Vuolo, Camila Papaleo, Jamey Rogers and Jacey Rogers; one great-great-grandchild, Sebastian Scott; her siblings, Chester Strange of Wynne, Ark., and Catherine Finley of Jonesboro, Ark.; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Donald Ray Strange.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home of First Baptist Church in Union City.
The Messenger 7.24.25
The Messenger 7.24.25