EDNA FRANCIS

Edna Francis, a German girl, born in Lodi, California, April 13, 1913, “Went to Glory” Tuesday, November 13, 2018. She is survived by her son, Rev. Richard (and Pat) Francis (pastor of Lodi Christian Life), and her daughter, Naomi Fair, wife of the late Rev. Delton Fair (pastor of North Calvary in Fresno, California). She is also survived by 5 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Rev. Jesse Francis, parents, Richard and Lydia (Grenz) Nathan, and her 3 siblings, Irene, Henry, and Dan. In the “roaring 1920’s”, she attended the new First Pentecostal Church along with grocery store owner Julius Rode (later pastor of Revival Center in Modesto, California) and his nephews, the Altnow brothers, owners of the Lodi Truck Service. She left Lodi and worked for a time in San Francisco in the 1930’s. She commuted to work across the bay by ferry, watching the construction of the Bay Bridge. After relocating to Sacramento, helping to establish a new church (now Calvary Evangelism pastored by her grandson, Rev. Troy Fair), she met and married Rev. Jesse Francis. Together they evangelized and pastored in California, Oklahoma, and Arizona. From late 1963 to 1973 they served as pastor of her home church in Lodi (now renamed Lodi Christian Life). In the fall of 1981 she returned to Lodi to serve with her husband assisting their son, Rev. Richard Francis (now pastor since 1973), in the church of her childhood. She was respected, revered, and loved by many until the day of her passing and will be missed.

Visitation will be Monday, November 19th from 2 p.m. till 8 p.m. at the Vineyard Chapel, 14165 N. Beckman Rd. in Lodi, CA.

A funeral service will be on Tuesday, November 20th at 1 p.m., at Christian Life Center in Stockton, 9025 West Lane. Interment will be at Lodi Memorial Cemetery following the service.

Please sign the guest book at www.lodinews.com/ guestbook.