Barbara Jean Francis, 70, of Athens, died Monday, Feb. 11, 2008, at SkyRidge Medical Center in Cleveland.

A native of Nashville, and a resident of Athens since 1974, she was a former resident of St. Petersburg, Fla. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Blake Francis, on May 26, 1994; her parents, James Arthur and Elizabeth Ann Crowder Hughes; and one brother, James Alfred Hughes. She was a member of Wildwood Baptist Church and was a City Park School crossing guard.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Sharon and Robert Roy and Sherry and Benny Lewis, all of Athens; four sons and daughters-in-law, David and Patty Francis of Cleveland, Richard Francis of Athens, Wayne Botts of Cleveland, and Arthur and Karen \"Francis\" Wilt of Chattanooga; seven grandchildren, Keith Roy, Melody Finley, Justin Wilt, Felecia Owens, Ken Owens, Kimberly Lingerfelt and Andrew Coppock; and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 8 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with the Rev. Bill Vest officiating. Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at McMinn Memory Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Those unable to attend may send condolences to mailto:condolences@laycock-hobbs.com