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Rev. Earle Francis, a long-time leader in the Baptist community, died at Princess Margaret Hospital on Wednesday night, his family confirmed.<\/p>\nRev. Earle Francis, a long-time leader in the Baptist community, died at Princess Margaret Hospital on Wednesday night, his family confirmed.<\/p>\n
Francis was 92.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Perry Christie said Francis led a long and extraordinary life of service to the Baptist faith and the Bahamian people.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was an outspoken and courageous preacher and one of our nation\u2019s most respected spiritual leaders,\u201d said Christie, in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy his personal example, he inspired successive generations of his compatriots to hold dear the virtues of family life.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf particularly poignant note in this regard, he was the personification of what it meant to be a devoted husband.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis public professions of love for his wife whom he affectionately called \u2018Sweet Potato\u2019 are the stuff of enduring legend.<\/p>\n
\u201cLong before it became fashionable for Bahamian men to do so, he was openly expressive of his love for his wife and children who, in their own right, continue to make major contributions to our nation in areas as diverse as religion, health care and culture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Christie said Francis was also a noted freedom fighter in the era of struggle for Majority Rule.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the brother of the Rev. Carlton Francis, one of the major political and trade union figures of his time, Rev. Earle himself played a vital role in the great historic movement for change,\u201d the prime minister added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe same fiery passion of social justice and freedom that motivated him in that period would stay with him in the ensuing years, indeed to the very end of his life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis also released a statement on Francis\u2019 passing.<\/p>\n
Noting that Francis led First Baptist Church on a spiritual journey for 50 years, Minnis said he positively impacted the lives of hundreds of Bahamians throughout the country and people throughout the Caribbean and the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cA World War II veteran, in The Bahamas British Legion, Rev. Francis was the first black to serve in the Royal Air Force Military Band,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was also the first black member in the Bahamas Hotel Association. An astute entrepreneur, Rev. Francis is credited to have established the Francis Hotel that was located in the popular Over-the-Hill area of Grants Town.\u201d<\/p>\n
He noted that Francis was also the longest serving chaplain of the Senate.<\/p>\n
\u201cRev. Francis was a loving husband, dedicated father and a highly respected man of God,\u201d Minnis added.<\/p>\n
Francis\u2019 son, Percy \u2018Vola\u2019 Francis, leader of the Shell Saxons Superstars, said yesterday the family is grateful for the support it has received since his father\u2019s passing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incredible the outpouring of condolences from all over,\u201d Francis said. \u201cWe are a large family. Dad has touched so many lives.\u00a0 It\u2019s just phenomenal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rev. Francis is survived by his widow, Marjorie, 11 children and many other relatives.<\/p>\n