Jason L. Francis

While pursuing his dream of obtaining a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Jason Lee Francis died after a three-month battle with cancer.
Jason was born in Panama City, Florida but grew up in Fayetteville and Sanford, North Carolina. He asked Jesus into his heart as soon as he learned to talk, and He took Jason on a colorful ride through life. Jason was created to be an artist!
Although his childhood was full of creative endeavors, he began to truly shine in high school. He was drum major for the Lee Senior High School marching band, dove into community theater productions, and performed in each Lee Senior musical from 1988 to graduation in 1991. Jason attended The Governor School for theater arts, and he performed in many Shakespearean roles throughout the United States.
Upon graduation, Jason sang all over the world with Celebrant Singers. In 1996 he graduated from Taylor University with a BA in English and Theater having played in shows all over the U.S. during his summer vacations. Some of his first professional roles were with a playhouse in Memphis, Tennessee. He then traveled the United States with Missoula Children’s Theater.
In 1998 he married Linda Wisenbeck, a fellow Taylor graduate, and a fellow Celebrant Singer musician. They moved to Seattle, Washington where Jason worked for St. Andrews Housing group, which provides housing for low income families. He was an active part of Seattle Vineyard church, where he formed eternal relationships that celebrated the love of Jesus in their community. Together, they spread God’s love from the church doors out to the city and beyond.
One of Jason’s greatest joys was the arrival of a daughter, Michaela Joy, on May 18, 2004. He danced with Michaela and sang her to sleep, prayed over her, read stories to her as she grew, and simply celebrated the wonder of his little girl. In 2007 Jason and his family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska for Jason to pursue his Masters of Fine Arts in Acting and Directing. He passed away just four months before his graduation.
In all that he did, Jason formed close relationships. He loved without reserve, celebrating each person he encountered. With us, he laughed hard, prayed hard, played hard, cried passionately, and cared deeply, as exemplified by over 300 students and friends attending his memorial service at the University of Nebraska’s “Johnny Carson Theater” where Jason worked and performed. He believed in and experienced God. He followed Jesus and led us all to open fields of grace, encouraging each of us to freely express the person we are. God expressed Himself by creating Jason Lee Francis, and Jason was never hesitant to show us precisely the person whom God created. And he died well. In his last hours, with painful gasps, he spoke to his wife these words:
“God is sovereign. He will do what He will. And I love it!”
On 1-11-2010, God came for Jason. He is survived by his wife Linda Francis and his 7 year old daughter Michaela Joy Francis of Lincoln, Nebraska; his grandmother, Anna P. DeForest of Schenectady, New York; his mother, Patricia D. Francis of Raleigh, North Carolina; his father, Henry C. Francis of Goldsboro, North Carolina; his brothers Matthew Christian Francis of Charlotte, North Carolina and Andrew Henry Francis of New York, New York; and his sister Christi Lovisa Hrin of Bristow, Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made through www.angeltrain.org.
A memorial service/show will be held in Sanford, North Carolina in the near future.