Rebecca Francis

M. Rebecca "Becky" Francis of Beaufort, South Carolina died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 76 on Friday, April 7 at Friends of Caroline Cottage in Ridgeland, SC. Becky was born July 14, 1946, to Ladson A. Barnes, Jr., and Martha B. Barnes in Rock Hill, SC. Becky graduated from Fort Mill High School and received her B.A. in Education from Winthrop College.

Becky moved to Charleston to teach elementary school, where she met her husband, Charles T. Francis. Becky and Charlie moved north, settling in Providence, Rhode Island. They had two children: Katherine R. Francis of Benton Harbor, Michigan and Tyler B. Francis of Providence, RI.

Becky was employed in Providence as a paralegal for the law firms Edwards & Angell and McGovern, Noel. She ended her career as a senior paralegal at Bank of America. She and Charlie retired to Beaufort, SC in 2010, where Becky was active in her charity work, helping Friends of Hunting Island protect sea turtles and served on the Board and then as Board Chair of The United Way of the Lowcountry. She was also a leader at her family's telecommunications company, Comporium, Inc., headquartered in Rock Hill, SC. She served on various committees and as Board Chair for four years, retiring one month before her death.

Becky is survived by her husband, children and her sister, Lucille B. Glass and brother, Ladson A. Barnes, III.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to The United Way of the Lowcountry PO Box 202, Beaufort, SC 29901 or Friends of Hunting Island PO Box 844 St. Helena Island, SC 29920.