Ammie Lee Francis was born August 2, 1931 in Jackson, MS to the union of the late Walter ad Bettie (O’Banion) Harris. Ammie transition from this life at the blessed age of 89 to her heavenly home on April 2, 2021 surrounded by love.
Ammie Francis came to Buchanan, Michigan in the late 40’s with her family, she was the oldest of the nine children. Buchanan was where she met the love of her life…… Willie Lee Francis, Sr., they married on September 17, 1949. To this union were born three children…..Willie, Betty and Marcia.
Ammie was her birth given name…but this strong and kind-hearted woman gained the loving titles of: Mama, Grandmother, Grandmama and GiGi! Mrs. Ammie was the ultimate homemaker….her favorite times were always in her home. She was most joyful when cooking her favorite dishes…and she was the best at this trade. She had a knack for canning, freezing, and preserving “anything and everything”. She had a library of cookbooks and was always collecting recipes from anywhere she could. Her vegetable garden….flower garden were her special joys! These joys in her life encouraged her to build her own barbecue pit, a picnic table and put a fence around the yard where she raised her family. The love of Christ was taught to her at an early age and lingered with her throughout her lifetime. Ammie expressed this love with her Sunday School class and her Sunshine Band of grade school age children……whom she loved dearly.
Ammie leaves cherished memories in the lives of her son: Rev. Willie (Michelle Elaine) Francis, Jr., of South Bend, IN; 2 daughters: Betty Marie Francis of St., Joseph, MI and Marcia Kay McGuirt of Buchanan, MI; 5 grandchildren: Stephanie Francis of Lansing, Steven Francis of Buchanan, Donald (Holly) McGuirt of Niles, Brandon DePreist of Buchanan, and Amy Suzanne Francis of St. Joseph; loving great-grandchildren; 2 sisters: Christine (Garfield) Hubbard of Columbia, MD and Rose (Carlos) Orlando of Riverside, CA; 2 brothers: Hezkiah (Thelma) Harris of Chicago, IL and William (Helen) Harris of South Bend, IN; a God-daughter, Kyra Clark of Buchanan, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Willie in 1998; 2 sisters: Ollie Mae Harris and Iola Groves; 2 brothers: Walter Harris, Jr., and Robert Lee Harris Sr.
We love you Mom…..but God loves you more!
Arrangements have been entrusted to Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.
Posted On: Monday, April 12, 2021 11:18 AM
