Mitchell Francis

St. Martinville - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, December 3, 2016, at Notre Dame Catholic Church in St. Martinville for Mitchell "Mechele" Francis, Sr., 96, who passed away on Monday, November 28, 2016, in St. Martinville. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at the funeral home from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm on Friday, and continue on Saturday at 7:00 am until 9:30 am. A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 pm on Friday. Rev. Michael Sucharski will officiate at the Funeral Mass. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery in St. Martinville. Mr. Francis honorably served his country in the United States Army and was a member of the American Legion Post 0419. He retired from the St. Martin Parish Police Jury, where he worked as a dozer operator. He enjoyed working in his garden, while growing okra and sugar cane, feeding his pigs, and building and demolishing houses. For most of his life he was known to be an entrepreneur and was also a man of many talents. Mitchell will be remembered for providing housing to those people in need of a place to stay. He is survived by his sons, Frank Francis and wife Annette, Johnny Francis, Clay Francis and wife Sharlene, all of St. Martinville, Mitchell Francis, Jr. and wife Gwendolyn of Parks, and William Francis and wife JoAnn of Louisville KY; daughters, Mary "Fee" Williams and husband Don of Port Arthur, TX, Anna "ToeToe" Durand and husband Joe, and Joan "Kissie" Hurst, both of St. Martinville; brother-in-law, Rubin Paul Guillory of St. Martinville; sister, Gertie Mae Landry of St. Martinville; 40 grandchildren; 80 great grandchildren; and 6 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by wife of 70 years, Viola George Francis; his parents, Frank and Alexandrine Turpeau Francis; sisters, Viola Dauphine, Bernice Glover, Marguerite Daigre, Esther Rena James, and Mary Ella Guillory; brothers, Adam, Benjamin and Joseph Francis; grandchild, Donovan Aubry; great grandchild, Angel D. Williams; and his son-in-law, Robert Hurst. Pallbearers will be Frank Francis, Jr., Hunter Wiltz, Ernest Glover III, Cedric George, Brian Francis, and Irvin Butler. Pellerin Funeral Home of St. Martinville, 112 New Market St., St. Martinville, LA 70582, (337-394-9121) is in charge of arrangements. To view on-line obituary, sign guestbook and view video tribute, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com