Earline W. Francis, age 81 of Decherd, passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Unity Medical Center in Manchester. Earline was born on June 8, 1943, in Hillsboro, TN, to the late John Roservelt and Jennie Mae (Jones) Wilkerson. In 1961, she married the love of her life, Clark Francis (sixty-three years before his death), and with this union had four children. Earline worked for Wilson Sporting Goods and retired from Lanier Clothing. In her spare time, she enjoyed dancing, gardening, and preparing wonderful meals for family gatherings that would include sweet potato pies, dressing, and turnip greens. Earline looked forward to traveling to see her son and sisters. She was a faithful member of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Decherd, where she served as president of the usher board. She was a devout Christian lady who loved singing the gospel hymns and reading her Bible daily. She will be remembered by her family as a loving and passionate lady who had a great since of humor. In addition to her parents, Earline is preceded in death by her husband, Clark Francis Sr.; sons, Wesley Francis and Kenneth Francis; siblings, Gordan Wilkerson, Frankie D. Wilkerson, William Ross Wilkerson, John Roservelt Wilkerson Jr., Ernest Lee Wilkerson, Katherine Wilkerson, Ruby Crawford, Pauline O.Neal and Dorothy Collier. She is leaves behind to cherish her memories, son, James (Rose) Francis of Springfield, MO; daughter, Kimberly (Tim) Eddings of Decherd; grandchildren, Timothy Eddings Jr, Mauresha Eddings, Anthony Eddings, Derick (Sarah) Francis, and Eric Francis; great-grandchildren, Mylo Francis, Oliver Francis, and Kayla Francis; siblings, Bernice Ezell, Peggy (Robert) Swinger and Janice Kay Jordan all of Nashville, and Arthur Clay Wilkerson of Decherd; host of nieces, nephews, cousins; and special friends, Pauline Champion. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 28, 2025, from 11:00am -12:00pm at Watson Funeral Home with funeral service following at 12:00pm. Interment will follow in Franklin Memorial Gardens with nephews and cousins serving as pallbearers. A repass will be held at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church immediately following the burial.
