Mary Louise Hunter Francis

Mrs. Mary Louise Hunter Francis, daughter of Will and Roberta Hunter, saw sunrise in 1923, in Goshen Hill, South Carolina. The family later moved to Asheville, North Carolina.

As a teenager, she worked with the local physician who encouraged her to pursue a career in medicine. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in the nursing program at Howard University in Washington, DC. She graduated in 1945. She was most proud of the work she did with Dr. Charles Drew, a preeminent surgeon and the founder of the modern-day Blood Bank. It was during her time at Howard that she met the love of her life Dr. Michael Stuartson Francis. They were married on June 25, 1945, and settled in Brooklyn, New York. This union produced 2 sons and a daughter. The family later integrated the Regent Place neighborhood in Huntington, New York. An eternal leader, she earned a Masters in Health Administration from Long Island University and a Geriatric Nurse Practitioners degree from Cornell University. Her nursing career spanned 50 years and included nursing in the emergency department and operating room, private duty nursing, visiting nursing, drug counseling and a substitute health education teacher. In addition to helping “Dr. Mike” run three offices, she supervised the nursing staff and developed the first adult day care for veterans at the Brooklyn Veterans Administration Hospital, became a Girl Scout Leader and Cub Scout Den Mother, served as an elder and Board of Deacon member for Bethany Presbyterian Church and became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Delta Rho Omega Chapter. Although they spent most summers in Barbados, they had the opportunity to visit all the Caribbean Islands, Panama Canal, Alaska, Germany, England and France and enjoyed many cruises.

After living in Regent Place for 43 years, she and “Dr. Mike” moved to Jenners Pond where they became active participants in the community. She enjoyed golfing, quilting, playing Bridge and Canasta, writing for Jenners Pond publication (Splash), volunteering for the Arts and Crafts Fair, painting, Wii bowling, assisting the Health Director in organizing health promotion groups and line dancing. She has several published poems, including The Wheel of Destine, The Dash, Old Friends and The Three A’s.

She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Wanda Francis-Blackwell; son-in-law, Dr. Ray Blackwell; brother, Eugene Hunter (Evelyn Hunter), brother Haywood (Sonny) Hunter; daughter-in-law, Pauline Francis; daughter-in-law, Jamella Franklin; three granddaughters, Arielle Francis Blackwell (Keith Morrison), Ashley Blackwell (Brian Knoll), Asia Blackwell; two grandsons, Christopher Francis (Beth Francis) and Stephen Cortex Francis and a host of other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, “Dr. Mike”; son, Michael Francis Jr.; son, Frederick Francis; brothers, William Hunter, Jr., Elijah Hunter and James Hunter; sisters Bessie Hunter and Sadie Hunter; and grandson, Nicholas Francis.

Mrs. Francis saw sunset quietly, and with grace and dignity on November 19, 2024.