Tony Francis

1942 - 2015

Tony Donald Francis

Princess Anne-Tony Donald Francis, a corporate finance auditor steadfast in his conviction that education and character were essential to youth achievement and society's future, died Friday, Dec. 11 at his home outside Princess Anne after a short illness.



Francis was a pioneer for African Americans in corporate audit and technology programming at Fortune 500 firms in the northeast, and was a senior international audit manager at Johnson & Johnson in New Jersey when he retired in 2000. He then settled in Princess Anne on Maryland's Eastern Shore, devoting his retirement years to mentoring area youth on college and career readiness and coaching school sports programs. He also was an active and influential member at Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Princess Anne and a strong supporter of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.



His pioneering spirit and thirst for education were nurtured in rural West Virginia, where his was the only black family in the hamlet of Duhring. He was born Aug. 27, 1942 to Tony and Elizabeth Susie "Nana" Francis, who preceded him in death.



Also preceding him in death are brothers, William Douglas Francis and Larry Tyrone Francis; sister Joyce Francis; John Buckhannon, and Gail Green, who he regarded as a sibling.



He also was preceded in death by his first spouse, Guy J.P. Montusclat of New Jersey.



Left to cherish his memory is his spouse of 21 years, Kevin E. Wallis of New Zealand.



Francis also is survived by brothers Earl Sherill Francis of Georgia, Robert E. Lemons of Kansas; and sisters, Shirley Ann Wilkinson of Maryland and Ann Warner of Ohio.



Other survivors are special family friends William and Myra Swanson and daughters; Clarence and Andrew Clark, all of New Jersey; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins, including special cousins Anne Cabble of New Jersey and Margaret Barnes.



Francis left West Virginia after graduating from Bluestone High School in Bramwell, W. Va., although he was a proud and active member of the Bluestone Alumni Association until his death. He landed in New York, where he attended Saint John's University in New York, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business. He received a Master of Business Administration degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. It was during his studies at Messiah College that Francis became a standout as the first black on the basketball team.



Francis gained a competitive advantage by completing an Operations Institute program at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business in Durham. He also completed the corporate Finance Institute in the Kenan-Flaglee Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.



Most of his professional career was at Pan Am Airline in New York and Warner Lambert pharmaceutical firm in New Jersey, where he worked in systems technology; and at Johnson & Johnson in audit management. He also represented Johnson & Johnson on advisory boards at Raritan Valley Community College in New Jersey where he was an adjunct professor of business management.



Francis was passionate about educating youth and worked tirelessly to mentor students enrolled in both public schools and at several institutions of higher education around the country. In Princess Anne, he worked tirelessly with student athletes and was the current coach of the Washington High School Jaguars tennis team. He also has served as coach for basketball and golf in Somerset County public schools.



Francis died lobbying for support to build new tennis courts at Washington.



At Metropolitan United Methodist Church, Francis was a member of the finance committee and the trustee board, and was active with the United Methodist Men. He also is credited for philanthropic givings in his church and the community.



Francis is the recipient of numerous education, professional and community awards and recognitions. The sports enthusiast was a member of the MISKA organization at the Great Hope Golf Course in Westover.



Francis traveled extensively, recently returning from a trip to France for the French Open tennis games. He has frequently visited Europe, Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, Australia and the Caribbean.



Funeral services are 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Princess Anne. A viewing will precede the funeral from 12 to 1 p.m. The Bennie Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Donations to the Washington High School Tennis Club can be made in memory of Tony D. Francis in care of the school at 10902 Old Princess Anne Road, Princess Anne, MD 21853.