Memorial
Francis Eliza Northern, 60 of Cedar Rapids, died Tuesday June 23, 2015 at her home. Funeral Service: 1:00p.m. Friday July 3, 2015 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be held from 5-8p.m. Thursday July 2, 2015. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Francis was born August 18, 1954 in Vinton, Iowa. The third child and second daughter of Hansel and Ethel Wilson. She graduated from Washington high School in 1972 and briefly attended Kirkwood Community College.
On August 25, 1978, she was united in marriage to Freddie Northern, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. From this union she had two sons, Ashton and Cody both of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Francis worked at Cryovac for 20 years. Norwood Souvenir for 10 years until the flood of 2008. Currently she was employed at Altofer Incorporated until the time of her passing.
She was heavily involved in her community; some of the organizations she was involved with were: Cryovac Rereation, Cedar Rapids Big Brother Big Sisters program for over twenty years, The NAACP, Jefferson Booster Club which in 2010 inducted her into their Hall of Fame. Francis also contributed to the Metro Football Association for over thirty-one years, where she acted as a cheerleading coach and later volunteered to run the concession stand. In 2011 she was named to the Metro Football Association Honor Roll for her many years of service. In 2015 she was a recipient of the Jefferson Honorary Diploma, at their graduation ceremony.
Francis was a devoted wife, mother, sister and aunt.
Survivors include her husband, Freddie Northern; two sons, Ashton and Cody Northern; siblings, Theodore Wilson, Diantha (Johnny) Powell, Elsie Wilson, Horace Wilson, Gertrude Fitzpatrick, Tristain Munnings, Sharel Wilson; brother and sister-in-laws Johnnie (Alfreda) Northern, Bobbie Pierce, Janie (Larry) Lewis, Leola Northern, Linda Nelson, ad several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Memorial donations may be directed to Metro Youth Football or Jefferson high School in Francis memory.