Joan Raborn Francis

FRANCIS Dr. Joan Raborn Francis, age 74 of Gretna, LA, passed away on Thursday, March 8, 2007 peacefully in her home with her husband at her side. Dr. Francis was preceded in death by her parents, Simpson and Thelma Raborn and siblings: Daniel Simpson Raborn and Thelma Raborn Pittman. She is survived by two sisters: Zenell Raborn Ott and Jean Raborn Erwin. She is also survived by her husband of 51 years, Richard Roy Francis, Sr.; three children: Richard Roy Francis, Jr., wife, Deborah (Debbie), Teresa (Terry) Pizzalato, husband, Salvadore and Joann (Joan) Francis and husband, John Springer. Also survived by three grandchildren: Walter Richard Francis, Richard Harris Greenberg and Sara Elizabeth Pizzalato. Dr. Francis graduated from Osyka High School in Osyka, Mississippi. In 1955, she earned a BA in Elementary Education from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond and received a Masters of Education from Tulane University in 1967. At the age of 63, she received her Doctorate in Special Services from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. While employed with the Jefferson Parish School System, she served as a teacher before moving into special education as an educational consultant. Upon retiring from the school system in the late 1970s, she went on to work in Jefferson Parish Juvenile Services as an administrator and research grant specialist. She also lectured on stress management for social workers and did lecture workshops on parenting classes. In 1999 she retired from Jefferson Parish Juvenile Services and was a professor for The University of Phoenix. She had been teaching at the University of Phoenix's LA Campus for 10 years and online for four years. In addition to teaching at UOP, she wrote a column for the Times Picayune, ""The Gretna Grapevine.'' She was a very active member of her community, being involved in Gretna Historical Society, Gretna Food Bank, St. Joseph's Church, Friends of CASA, the West Bank Art Guild, Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, Friends of German-American Cultural Center, Twilight Gardeners, Shamrock Investment Club, The Red Hatters and the Plimsoll Club. In addition to these organizations she was active in the educational sororities ADK Sorority for Teachers, Kappa Kappa Iota, Phi Delta Kappa and Alpha Kelta Kappa. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Joseph Church, 610 6th Street, Gretna, LA at 7:00PM on Monday, March 12, 2007 with family visitation beginning at 6:00PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Friends of CASA of Jefferson, P.O. Box 746, Harvey, LA 70059. Arrangements are being handled by MOTHE FUNERAL HOME.