Pauline Francis

Pauline Elveda Francis, known to most as Polly, was born in Manchester, Jamaica, West Indies, on April 10, 1930, to parents Madge Maurine Burton and Ernest Andrew Marshall. She spent most of her early years in Kingston, Jamaica, living with her mother, Madge, and her grandmother, Juliet Calvert Millington, affectionately known as Mama D. In 1946, at the age of 16, Polly immigrated to the United States, to live with her mother, who had migrated shortly before. Polly moved to the Melrose section of The Bronx, New York, where she attended and graduated from Morris High School.

One day, while Polly’s mother, Madge was visiting a Cleaners in their section of the Bronx, Madge met a fellow Jamaican immigrant named Clara Francis who was operating the Cleaning business and working there as a seamstress. After speaking, the two women realized that they both had young, single, eligible children, and an introduction was arranged between Polly and Noel “Roy” Francis. The two met, fell in love, and were married shortly thereafter, creating a life together and residing in the Bronx for the next 34 years. In June of 1955, Polly gave birth to their first child, Paula Elizabeth. Polly became a Homemaker, while her husband, Roy worked as a U.S. Postal Worker. In September of 1959, Polly gave birth to their second child, Joel Marshall.

Pauline “Polly” remained a Homemaker until 1970, when she began a career as a Home Health Care Provider. She loved her job, as her soft, simple and sincere personality seemed to be a perfect fit for her career choice. Throughout all of her years, Polly was a committed wife, who enjoyed hosting parties, dinners, and ceremonies. Her husband Noel “Roy” was a “footballer” or soccer player, and also a renowned cricket player. Roy co-founded the Wembley Athletic Club in New York in 1955, and was an avid cricket player until the late 1970’s. Polly embraced the role of one of the primary hostesses to the many cricket players from Jamaica, and from other Caribbean countries. In addition to hosting numerous local cricket awards ceremonies at their home, Polly and her husband hosted an awards ceremony for the Custom Tourers Cricket Team from Jamaica, in or around 1972. This affair was covered by Jamaica’s premier newspaper, the Jamaica Gleaner.

Polly loved cats, dogs and all animals, in general. While living in the Bronx, she would often feed all of the cats around her home, and it wasn’t unusual to find 8 or 9 cats around a bowl of milk in her backyard. For several years during this period, Polly had 3 dogs and 1 or 2 cats in her home.

In 1989, Polly and Roy relocated to Orlando, Florida where they truly enjoyed their retirement, doing what they loved best, socializing with the Jamaican community and welcoming their grandchildren and other family members on their visits, often for extended periods of time. She loved to go shopping and search for deals. When her family and friends arrived for visits, both short term or long term, they could always be certain that Polly was going to take them shopping.

After her daughter, Paula passed away in 1999, Polly embraced the opportunity to care for Paula’s daughter, her grand-daughter, Amanda. Polly also moved her mother, Madge, into her home for the last years of Madge’s life, when she became too ill to care for herself. Upon her husband’s passing in 2004, Polly moved to Yonkers, New York to be close to her family. In 2012, she moved to Charlotte, NC where she resided with her son, Joel, and his family until her passing.

Polly was pre-deceased by her husband, Noel Roy Francis, her daughter, Paula Elizabeth, and a granddaughter, Jasmine Joyce Francis. She is survived by her son Joel Francis, daughter-in-law Cynthia Francis, five (5) grandchildren Janicia Francis, Joel Francis II, Adam Quallo, Amanda Francis, and Mikai Francis; step-grandchildren Tyler Owens II and Chanée Owens; seven (7) great grandchildren, Emmanuel Francis, Elijah Francis, Elias Francis, Elaiah Francis, Ethan Francis Morrison, Aiden Quallo, and Carlton Quallo. Polly will be remembered as a loving and committed wife, mother, grandmother and friend, whose door was always open.