[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E32]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 CELEBRATING THE FORTY-FOURTH PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY OF REVEREND DOCTOR 
                           NORMAN N. FRANCIS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TROY A. CARTER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 11, 2024

  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
forty-four years of Pastoral excellence of Reverend Doctor Norman 
Nathan Francis. Reverend Doctor Norman Nathan Francis was born to the 
union of the late Norman Francis and the late Eartha Singleton Cambrice 
on January 9, 1954, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is the oldest of 
twelve siblings.
  He is a product of the Jefferson Parish School System. He attended 
McDonogh No. 27 Elementary School and is a 1971 West Jefferson Senior 
High School graduate. Reverend Francis accepted Christ in his life in 
1974 and was baptized at the St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church by 
the late Reverend Doctor Arthur Monday, Jr. He acknowledged his call to 
preach the gospel of Christ and was licensed to preach on December 19, 
1975. He received his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Theology from 
the Union Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. He 
became an ordained minister in April 1980. Following the untimely death 
of the late Reverend Doctor Arthur Monday, Jr., Reverend Francis was 
elected pastor by a unanimous vote of the church's congregation. He was 
installed as the church's third pastor on June 20, 1980, under the 
auspices of the Westside Missionary Baptist Association.
  The church has a functioning youth ministry, a weekly prayer service, 
and Bible Study. He has implemented the following ministries: New 
Members, Evangelistic, Senior Citizens, Prison, Drug Prevention, 
Transportation, and many other ministries and committees. Pastor 
Francis encourages the entire membership to participate in all church 
functions. He believes there is a place for everyone who wishes to 
contribute to the work of the Almighty Father. He has officiated 
hundreds of baptisms, Christenings, funerals, and weddings.
  Pastor Francis is a member of the Free and Accepted Prince Hall 
Masonic Lodge No. 102 and a Third Degree Mason, a member of the 
Louisiana State Missionary Baptist Convention and the National Baptist 
Convention, LSA Incorporated. He is the First Vice-President of the 
West New Orleans Missionary Baptist Education Association. He is the 
Senior Advisor to the Westside Missionary Baptist Association 
President--Reverend Doctor Orin D. Grant, Sr.
  Pastor Francis received numerous accolades from Civic organizations; 
he was the first recipient of the Global Citizen Award, a Pastor of the 
Month Recipient, and a Civilians' Clergy Honoree. He was awarded his 
Honorary Doctorate Degree in Theology from Christian Bible College on 
April 3, 2011, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity's 2016 Citizen of the Year 
Award and the 2020 Union Baptist College and Theological Seminary 
Distinguished Alumni Citizen Award. He is listed in Who's Who Among 
American Ministers' Registry and many other organizations for his 
dedicated spirit, but he knows his real reward is in heaven.
  Pastor Francis is the loving and devoted husband of First Lady Nedra 
Washington Francis. He is the proud and caring father of Nathaniel, 
Chiquita, and Imani Francis, and Willie Moore, Jr.

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