[9] In the 1970s, Francis ran the coffee shop at KTRK-TV in Houston, and worked there for more than 20 years.

[10] Francis never learned to drive, so she used the bus or relied on family members for transportation.

[4] Francis avoided smoking and alcohol her whole life and often grew vegetables in her backyard.

[11][12][13] On February 22, 2024, Francis became the oldest person in the United States following the death of 116-year-old Edie Ceccarelli of California.

[14] Following her death, Naomi Whitehead of Greenville, Pennsylvania, became the oldest-living person in the United States.