Donna Ringgold Francis

Donna Ringgold Francis, age 81, of Raleigh, North Carolina was born on October 30, 1942 in Norfolk, VA to James Denwood Ringgold and Helen Crews Bobbitt Ringgold. She lived most of her life in Raleigh and died with pneumonia complicated by Parkinson’s disease in Raleigh on May 23, 2024.

She was predeceased by paternal grandparents Wallace and Louise Ringgold Corkran of Towson, MD and maternal grandparents, Garland E. and Naomi Crews Bobbitt of Raleigh; parents; stepmother Bettie “Betsy” Bridges Andersen Ringgold; and brother Denwood Ringgold and sister Deborah (Jeff) Crider of Clayton, NC.

She is survived by husband John Ervin Francis of Raleigh, son Matthew Ringgold Francis (Jennifer) of Raleigh and daughter Elizabeth Francis Dickens (Steve) of Matthews, NC; grandchildren are Aaron, Susannah, Jack Francis of Raleigh and Lilly, Quinn, Isaac, Zeke Dickens of Matthews; sister Vickie (Don) Garner of Talbott, TN and brother Marty (Le) Ringgold of Clayton; many nieces and nephews.

Donna graduated from Broughton High School and Peace College and worked at the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board in Richmond, VA for a few years and then in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at NCSU where she met her husband of 56 years. As a couple, Donna and John were deeply involved in their church and invested themselves in small group gatherings and in leading marriage seminars.

Deeply committed to her family, Donna was the key to sustaining Ringgold gatherings across five generations including Christmas dinners and beach reunions. She loved the family farm and enjoyed her flowers and birds around her cottage. That cottage was shared as a respite for missionaries, ministers, friends and family who needed a relaxing time in the country. As her last gift to others, Donna was a tissue donor.

A celebration of life worship service will be held at Southbridge Fellowship Church at 12621 Strickland Road in Raleigh at 10:30 am on Saturday June 15 with a visitation with the family to follow (service available on livestream at sfchurch.com). Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be designated to missions at Southbridge Fellowship Church.

Brown-Wynne Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. If you would like to leave a message of condolence to her family, you may do so below within "Add a Memory".