Ricky Lee Francis
July 20, 1958 ~ August 7, 2021
Marietta Southern Cremations & Funerals
Ricky Lee Francis (Rick), passed away peacefully at 8:07 on August 7, 2021 at the age of 63. He was born in Richmond, VA. Predeceased by mother, Brenda Moore Francis. Survived by his loving wife of 32 years, (Deborah.) Lovingly remembered by Wayne Sr. father; Jean Pearson; Nick-son; Ashley-daughter; Wayne Jr-brother; Kimberly-sister; Louise - mother-in-law; Kim-niece; Josh and Ashley-nephew; Wes and Lindsay-nephew; Kaely-niece; Kassie-niece; Vicky - sister-in-law; June Kramer-aunt VA; Jerry and Susan-uncle VA; Jenny-aunt VA; cousins-VA and many friends.
Rick grew up in Virginia where his love of hunting and fishing began from his grandfather, Pops.
He moved to Georgia and was employed at Winn Dixie for over 25 years.
His passion for hunting and fishing continued throughout the years.
Rick’s favorite holiday was Christmas and picking out and decorating the perfect tree.
He had a great love of the ocean and finding seashells.
He enjoyed sitting outdoors with his dog Nikki and his pet chicken Miss Molly watching the birds.
Thanks to Emory Hospice for the comfort and care they provided to him.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to: St. Jude, American Red Cross - Blood, platelets or money, American Liver Foundation or 4ocean.
Visitation will be held on August 21, 2021 at 10:00-11:00am and 11:00-12:00pm service. Prayers will be offered from Rev. Dr. Denise Currie - Lowe. And fellowship at 12:00-1:00pm
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
One time dad had taken me and my friend to Sweetwater Park in Douglasville , GA. We had to cross over some rocks. He fell face 1st. I was so worried but he got up & said “well now I know what Sweetwater water taste like”
One time Dad went deep sea fishing & had got a very small shark. It fell in the boat, he picked it up by his fin to toss him back in the ocean. It bit him but dad said he didn’t even feel it, that someone had said “damn your bleeding” But that’s just how tough my dad was. ❤🦈
My dad was my best friend. We loved getting snow cones together at Pelican’s snowcones
One of dad’s favorite places to eat was a Chinese buffet near us that served BlueCrab & he loved going there with my mom
We got married on 9/16/1989 and went to Myrtle Beach for our honeymoon. Hugo headed straight for Myrtle Beach and we had to evacuate. Our love survived that storm. My heart is broken and I miss you so much.
Dad I love you so much, I will cherish forever every memory we have together. I miss you so much. Words will never ever be able to express the immense amount of pain I have felt losing you. You were my best friend and that will never change. I wish we had more time together. I wish I could still hug you, I wish I could still hear you randomly tell me “I love you tootie” . life will never be the same without you but I promised you I would try my best to keep living my life. It just doesn’t feel right without you. I love you forever and always – love little Ricky
Hey dad just wanted to let you know that Wes has got 2 deer so far this year! & Eric has got 1! I know you would be so happy for them & I’m sure you’ve been helping them. Nick started a new job not to long ago and he likes it. Mom, Nikki, Molly & I have been struggling without you. We miss you so much dad. I wish I could tell you I loved you one more time & go get a snowcone together.
I miss you so much…my heart is broken. I hope you know how much we love and miss you.
Hey dad you know what today is. My birthday. You were always the first one to wish me happy birthday. It’s been so hard without you. Sometimes I don’t know how I’m going to make it through life without you by my side. I hope you know how much Mom, Nikki, Molly & I miss you so very much. I cooked the Turkey today like how you & I use to do it. It turned out just like yours. I wish you were here to see it. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about you. You meant the world to me. Love you forever and Always -your best friend
Dad I can’t believe that now we lost Nikki too 😭 my heart hurts so much. The pain of not only losing you but Nanny as well just a little over a month & now Nikki it’s unbearable at times. Please dad please watch over us, please give us strength, please hold on to Nikki for us and give her lots of kisses and all the whoppers up there in heaven.
Hey dad, I miss you so much words can’t explain it. You’ll forever always be my best friend. No one can replace that, and I hope I can make you proud of me. I love you forever and always dad. Mother’s day is coming up this weekend. Please you and Nanny and Gam Gam and of course Nikki watch over mom. It’s going to be hard for her. I’m trying my best to be there for her but please give her strength. We love all of you & miss all of you so much
Today is Father’s day & it has been 10 months since I lost you. My heart is broken. You meant the world to me and I hope you knew that before you left. What I have missed the most is hearing your voice, the random “I love you’s” , your hugs , our late night talks when neither of us could sleep , your cooking , and a list of other things. Words can never ever express how broken I feel without you. I know I will always be “Little Ricky” and I know you’ll always be a part of me. I just hope that as you look down on me that I can make you proud. I love you dad. You will forever and always be my best friend.
It’s my first birthday without you and now today is yours. Just last year we celebrated yours at Emory. If only I had known we had a few days left. If only they could have healed you. I miss you so much. I don’t think my heart will ever mend. I pray you’ll give us strength and let us know you’re with us. All my love forever and ever.
Today and everyday we celebrate Y O U. The wonderfully amazing man that you were. My heart aches that you aren’t with us anymore to celebrate your birthday but I know you’re with us. Now you’re the light that shines through the clouds, you’re the bird that takes flight and soars through the sky (you always said that’s what you would want to be) but you will always remain my best friend. Always and forever. You were taken from us too soon, I love you so much and I hope you know how much I miss you.
Today will make it one year without you. Without your smile, without your laugh, without your hugs, without hearing your voice, without YOU. My heart is hurting. I miss my best friend. I miss talking to you and hearing your voice. It has been so hard without you. Life isn’t the same but it never will be. You were taken from us to soon. I hope you’re flying high in the sky, like you always wanted to do. I hope you always have a smile on your face and are on the pier with Gam gam and your grandpa catching fish. I hope the skies are blue and the sun is shining down on you and Nikki. I hope you and Nanny are eating good, lots of banana splits. I hope that while you are having a good time that you still remember mom and I, because we will always and forever think of you. I love you dad always and forever. 10-4 over and out.
It’s so hard to believe it’s been a year without you. I miss your smile, your laugh, your voice, your presence. I thank God for Ashley – I don’t think I could make it through without her. Just continue to send a sign that you’re with us. All my love forever and ever.
I feel so incredibly lucky to have had you in my life for 28 years and for you to be my dad.
Life has a way of showing us just how short it is and I can’t help but think of all the things that you will no longer be here for physically.
I know you live on in spirit, I know you’re the hawk that flies high up in the sky with it’s wings spread wide. I know you’re the deer grazing in the grass, free to roam about.
Your love is in each day and carries on through all the season’s of the year.
Each fall as the leaves change I’ll think of you and cool mornings, football games and our matching hoodies.
In the spring I’ll think of you sitting outside with warm rays of sunlight hitting your skin and a smile on your face. Ill think of clear blue skies and think of star filled nights.
In the summer I’ll think of hot days and ice cold snowcones. I’ll remember cutting the grass and grabbing a frozen drink from QT.
In the winter I’ll think of days spent by that small fireplace you bought. I’ll remember getting a tree each year and decorating the house for Christmas.
You’re gone but then again you’re still here and I hope you always will be here. It’s the last thing you promised me and one I know you’ll keep .
Love you dad always and forever
– Little Ricky
I miss you so much dad. The holidays are coming up and they just aren’t the same without you. I was so blessed to have you in my life as my dad for 28 years. 28 years of memories that I will forever cherish and hold on to. My heart shattered at knowing I was losing you, losing my best friend, losing half of my heart, losing my dad. I’ve asked myself over and over why did it have to be you? Why couldn’t it have been me that left? You were always stronger than me. It was something I always admired about you. Being able to smile even after everything you had been through in life and God you went through so much and mom and I tried our best to keep you healthy and stay by your side through it all. I like to think we’re the reason you were here as long as you were but a thought creeps in that I failed you in the end. I should have asked more questions or should have put my foot down and told the doctor that there had to be something else that they could do. Anything to keep you here just a little longer. I know it’s selfish of me to think and to say because I know you’re happy where you’re at, I know you’re not in pain, I know you’re smiling. I just wish you were here sitting next to me with a smile on your face, I wish I could hug you again, I wish more than anything I could hear you tell me that you love me. I’ll always remember all the times you randomly told me you loved me because you never wanted me to doubt that you did. You were the best dad in the world and you will always be my best friend….. Till we meet again dad ❤❤❤ -Love always and forever your little Ricky
Happy Thanksgiving dad!!!!!!! Today is also my birthday & I know you would have been the first to wish me happy birthday when we woke up to do the turkey. I’m sure you’re up there giving Nikki some turkey for me and I know Gam Gam is happy to have you up there with her & I’m sure Nan & Pop have had plenty to tell you about to keep a smile on your face. Don’t forget to give Nanny some turkey too and give Molly some bread with tomatoes.
I really miss you dad. I wish you were here. It’s hard to be thankful for anything when we’ve lost so much and when we’re missing the biggest piece of our heart. I wish I would have told you more how much I loved you. I just hope you know that I love you dad and I wish you were here.
-love little Ricky
This is our second Christmas without you dad and it’s more painful than the last. I wish we could have picked out a Christmas tree together like we used to do. We could have got the tallest tree they had and added another mark on the ceiling. I wish we could have woken up early in the morning together like we used to do to do the turkey. We could have given Nikki lots of Turkey and made sure Molly had her tomatoes and bread. I wouldn’t complain about wrapping moms presents for you. We could have watched the football games together and had a glass of eggnog. I miss you dad. I miss creating memories with you. I miss your hugs and forehead kisses. I miss you giving me advice and how you always randomly told me how proud of me you were. I miss hearing your voice and seeing you everyday. I wish I had more videos of you talking and more pictures with you. I hope that from time to time you watch over mom and I.
Please be sure to give Gam Gam and Nanny a hug for us. Give Nikki a big kiss and some turkey, don’t forget her whoppers. Give Molly a kiss for us too.
I hope we will see each other again dad, I hope you wait for me with a smile on your face and your arms out ready for the biggest hug.
I miss you so much- it was truly harder getting through the holidays. We’re trying to stay close and be there for each other. I know you would be so proud of Ashley going to school and getting a better job.
I pray that you continue to give us signs that you’re watching over us.
Never forgotten and loved always ❤️
Hey Dad,
I just want to wish you a happy heavenly father’s day. I wish you were here so we could celebrate. Maybe go to the snow cone place. I hope you’re happy up there, I know you
were when you got to see Gam Gam. I hope you’ve been sitting out on a dock somewhere with her and pops and catching fish. I hope you’ve been getting a lot of love from Nikki
and Molly. Be sure to give Nikki a whopper for me and give Molly some bread with tomato on it. I’m sure Nanny gave you a big hug and I hope she told you how much Mom and I
miss you and how much we love you. I know I’ll always feel like I never told you enough just how much I do love you and how much I appreciate what a wonderful Dad you were to
me. I know for a few years we had a rough patch but we got past it and if possible I love you even more than before. I’ll always miss how you randomly told me that you were
proud of me and that you loved me. It’s the little moments like that, that I miss the most because it was moments like those that I took for granted. I was naïve in the way
that I thought I would have you forever, that I would have you till I was old and gray, that I would have you to call and talk to, that I would have you to call and fix things
that break or call to talk football to (mom is trying but you know you & I loved football the most). I thought I would have you around when I finally have kids of my own and
you would be able to babysit and teach them all of the things that you knew like how to fish and hunt, how to fix just about anything, how to build stuff, and how to enjoy
life with a smile on your face even when life is hard. That last one is what I’m trying my best to do, I can’t lie at times I feel guilty that I’m still not crying over you
everyday and I wonder if somehow I’m just broken …… If maybe when you died a piece of my heart went with you and I’ll just never be the same. That much I do know is true…
my life will never be the same without you in it Dad but I hope that you will always keep your promise to me and will always watch over me. I know at times you’ll shake your
head at some stupid decisions I make and I’m sorry for that, I know at times I won’t make you proud and maybe possibly even disappoint you but I want you to know that I’ll
never stop ….. I ‘ll get back on my feet and push forward until I can make you proud again. God, I miss your voice, I miss hearing you laugh, I miss hearing you first thing
in the morning and I miss hearing you the random times I would wake up and you would be up too and we would just talk. I miss your hugs and….. and I just miss everything
about you. I hope you know that, I hope you know that Mom does too and we are trying our best to make it through this but God, life sure did throw us for a loop losing one
after the other, after the other. It felt like someone stuck their hand in my chest and twisted my heart till they couldn’t anymore. It hurt. It hurt a lot. It still hurts
now and I think it always will. But one thing that brings me comfort is the last thing you ever said to me. That you love mom & I more than anything on this earth and I hope
you know that we loved you more than anything on this earth. Our love transcends time & space. I love you more than the stars in the sky and from where you’re at I’m sure you
can see just how many stars there are.
Till we meet again,
I love you Dad,
Love forever and always Little Ricky
Happy happy heavenly Birthday Dad!!! Today and everyday we celebrate you and cherish the memories we have of you that we hold oh so dear to us. It’s coming up on 2 years of you no longer being with us and the pain is still there. There will forever be a ache in my heart when I think of you because I’ll always wish we had more time together. More time to laugh, more time sitting out in the sun enjoying a nice breeze, more time to hear your voice and hear you say “I love you” I wish I could hear it now a thousand times over. I wish I could give you a hug and I wish I could give you a kiss. I wish more than anything that you were still here and not up there even though I know you’re happy where you’re at. I know it’s selfish of me to wish that but God I just miss you so so so much. You were my world and you meant everything to me. We were two peas in a pod, we were so much alike so when you left it felt like half of me went with you. I hope more than anything that you watch over mom & I from up there, that you miss us the way that we miss you I love you always and forever Dad
-Love Little Ricky
It’s hard to believe you have been gone two years! I miss you so much. Not a day will ever go by that I won’t think about you. My heart hurts so much. I just have to believe when I see a hawk and cardinals out back that you’re giving me a sign you’re near. It does make me feel better.
I know you’re proud of Ashley- she doesn’t have much more school left. Always know how much I love you and miss you.
Happy Thanksgiving Dad!!!
It hurts so much that you are not here, not here to wake me up so I could help you with the turkey, not here to watch football with me, not here to say “I love you” all of these may sound like such simple things to some but made such a profound impact on me……
It’s why even though it hurts you’re not here today ; I have to be thankful of all the many wonderful years that we had together and all the memories that we made together and I know you’d be happy that mom & I continued the tradition of cooking for Thanksgiving & watching football so while you may not have been here physically…… you were here spiritually.
I love you so so so so so much dad always & forever & ever
Merry Christmas Dad! I love you so much and I wish you were here to celebrate with us. We’re surrounded by memories of years past and at times I think that’s the only thing keeping us sane. You were the light of my life and its been so incredibly dark without you here but I hope this year that mom and I can go somewhere and bring your ashes to spread. At the end you could not enjoy life and I know there was still so much you wanted to do. I hope we can do some of those things so you can look down on us with a smile. I hope this Christmas you smile a lot and laugh, I know that you aren’t in any pain and I know Gam Gam greeted you with open arms. Give Nicki and Molly lots of love and kisses. Tell Nanny we miss her too.
Happy Father’s day to the best dad ever!!!! I wish you were here to celebrate this day and that I could tell you how much I love and appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Lately I’ve felt like that I didn’t spend enough time telling you how much you meant to me, I hope you knew how much I loved you. I wish I would have said “thank you” more, everyday you always went above and beyond doing stuff. From making my lunch box, to making dinner, to the yard work, etc etc etc. I could go on and on but you made me feel safe and loved in a world that is always so negative. You were absolutely the best dad in the world and I just hope you knew how much I loved you , appreciated you , and respected you.
Happy Heavenly Father’s Day to the best Dad. You will forever be missed. Time goes by so fast it seems but then again it seems like you just left us. I miss you so much. I just believe when I see the signs it lets me know you’re near.
Love forever ❤️
Happy heavenly birthday. I miss you every single day. It is really hard to believe that you’ve been gone almost 3 years! Sadly you spent your last birthday in the hospital. I love you and miss you so much. ❤️
Happy Birthday to the best dad in the world, not a day goes by where I don’t think about you. I will always think that we didn’t get to spend enough time together, that life was
cruel and took you from me too soon. Even if you would have lived to be over hundred years old I would have thought the same because I loved spending every second with you.
I loved the small moments, like going to grab a snow cone together, grocery shopping, going to the mall together, picking out christmas trees together, etc. all of those
mundane little things meant the world to me and now all I have are the memories you left behind. I can only hope that one day, when my time comes, that i’m able to see you again
and I know that all will be well. I know it will seem as if no time at all has passed but here on earth each second is a painful reality that you are no longer here with us.
I wish I could see you again, or at least hear your voice again. I know that you’re the deer I see coming home, the butterfly that flutters past, and the hawk soaring in the sky. I know
you’re the sound of the wind chime going off when there is no wind blowing, I know you’re around when I randomly smell your cologne. Thank you for the reminders that you’re
always with mom and I, they mean the world to us and I hope that as long as you’re up there and we’re down here that they will always continue. I love you dad forever and always
-Little Ricky
It’s been 3 years since you left this earth, things haven’t gotten any easier. Each day is just a painful reminder that you are no longer with us. I wish I had more time with you dad, I wish I had more time to tell you how much I love you. I know we said it every day but it still doesn’t feel like I said it enough. You meant so much to me and my life has forever been changed now that you’re no longer here. I just hope that you’re up there in heaven watching over mom & I, I hope you’re smiling and laughing, I hope you’re with Nikki, Molly, Gam Gam, Nanny, Nan & Pop, etc. I hope that you will continue to visit us as butterflies , hawks, ladybugs. I hope you start to visit us in our dreams. I love you always and forever dad – love little Ricky
It’s hard to believe it has been 3 years without you! There will never be a day that I don’t think of you and miss you. I just believe when we see little signs that you’re letting us know you’re looking over us. Love always and forever.
This year seemed to go by so fast, in some moments it seems like you were here just yesterday. That our family was still whole with you, Nikki, Molly, and Nanny still here.
You have missed so much already and it hurts to think of what all else that you will miss as the years continue to pass by. I hope you know i’ll always think of you, I
haven’t stopped thinking about you since you left. I think about you everyday, I think about things we used to do together and I like to think of things you might say or do
and to add them in as mom and I talk. I hope that she sees you in me because I like to think that you and I are so much alike. We loved alot of the same things and liked to
do so many of the same things together. You taught me a lot Dad, I hope that you will continue to watch over us and give us signs that you’re still with us.
I know you’re in heaven with Gam Gam, Pops & Nan, Nikki, Molly, and Nanny too. I know you’re happy, I know you’re no longer in pain and that you’re strong and healthy. I just
wish I could talk to you and hear your voice again, that I could give you a big hug and a kiss.
Merry Christmas Dad,
I love you – forever your Little Ricky
Happy Father’s Day Dad, yesterday mom and I saw a hawk while we were out. It was beautiful, it’s wings spread out and gliding with the wind. We know that was you, up in the sky and at peace. Knowing that doesn’t help with the pain from losing you, and that pain will never go away but it does help the ache. Knowing that you’re not in pain after having to be in pain for so many years and after having fought for so long to be around for mom & I.
I hate that you’re not here to celebrate father’s day, because you truly were the best dad in the whole world. I miss you so much and I hope that you have a beautiful day. And if you can please visit mom & I in our dreams
It’s hard to believe it’s almost 4 years since you’ve been gone! I just wanted to wish you Happy heavenly birthday! I miss you every day. Not a day has gone by that I don’t think about you. I just truly believe when we see the hawk or when I get woken up by the owl that it’s a sign from you. I love you always and forever ❤️
Happy Birthday Dad, not a day goes by that I don’t think about you and miss you. Time hasn’t helped to ease the pain from you having to leave. The only thing that helps is knowing that you’re in heaven with Gam Gam, Nikki, Molly, & Nanny. I know that you’re not in pain anymore and not having to go to any doctor’s anymore. I just miss you so much and especially today on your birthday. Mom & I will be sure to go to Pelican’s and get a snowcone and I hope you’ll be able to enjoy one too Dad 🩷 I love you always and forever ❤️
It’s been 4 years today without you dad. Not a day has gone by where I haven’t missed you. Not a day has gone by where it hasn’t felt like half of my heart is missing. Life isn’t the same without you, it’s been so hard with you gone. I just hope that you will always send mom & I signs that you’re with us
Love forever & always Ashley Nicole “little Ricky”
Merry Christmas Dad! I love you so much and miss you more as each year goes by. This is our 5th Christmas without you and it hasn’t got any easier. Whenever we get together with family, I always think of how different things would be if you were here. Please keep giving mom & I signs that you’re still with us.
I hope you have a beautiful Christmas with Gam Gam, Nanny, Nikki, Molly, Nan & Pop. Just know that mom & I are really missing you down here. Christmas isn’t the same without you, life isn’t the same and it never will be. We think about you everyday and try to talk about you whenever we can. You live on through each shared memory, & through each smile a memory brings on.
_ love always and forever Ashley Nicole “Little Ricky”
Another year is passed but not the memory of you. I think of you every day. I know you’re in a better place with no pain but it doesn’t make it any easier living without you here. I just know when we see signs that you’re always with us. ❤️forever and always ❤️