Ivy Lee Francois

Ivy was born March 16, 1955 in Chester, Pennsylvania to Sylvia Goldsborough Jennings and the late C. Kenneth Jennings. Ivy departed this life quietly on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at her home in New Castle, Delaware. Ivy was predeceased by her brother James, her grandparents, Robert and Leola Jennings and Alvin and Stella Goldsborough. Ivy grew up in Chester and was educated in the Chester School District. She was a Chester High School Class of 1972 graduate. She also attended DelTech Community College in Delaware. Ivy was baptized at Temple Baptist Church in Chester at an early age. She later joined Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in her early twenties. Years later, she joined New Life Ministries where she worshipped until she was not able to do so. Ivy was a child of God and her testimony reflected just that. She has read the Bible at least 100 times. She was a very generous, sweet, loving, kind, complimentary, ministering, optimistic and caring soul always being a witness for her Lord and Savior. Ivy was employed at York Store in downtown Chester in her late teens and early twenties. She worked five years at The Senior Lift Organization. She later was employed by Citizen bank in Media for many years. Her most recent job after retirement was with Macy’s in the Christiana Mall. Ivy became a very talented and creative seamstress in her teens. She has designed outfits for herself, her brother, James, for weddings and costumes for plays at New Life Ministries. She was also very creative in making beautiful decorations for her home. She became a dedicated and skillful singer beginning at Lincoln Elementary School continuing later by Praising the Lord in The New Life Ministries’ services. Ivy had a way of lightening the moment and making us smile, she really had a great sense of humor. At the same time, when she walked into a room, it was as if ROYALTY had just taken center stage. Ivy married the true, true love of her life, Widnir Francois and earlier this year celebrated 29 years of marriage. Ivy was the proud mother of her sons Khaleem Griffin (Sonya) and Woodny Francois. And, the proud grandmother of her granddaughters, Khaleelah Griffin, Kiajzei Tyson Wray, Kaianna Tyson Allen and Patience Francois. Ivy is survived by her siblings: Kenneth Jennings (Venita), Jennell Zahir, Rosalind Seth (Vincent), Shirley Hall (Harold), Naimah Jennings and Diane Komara. There are so many others who loved and adored Ivy, 3 aunts, 1 uncle, nieces, nephews, cousins, The New Life Ministry family and the many others who came across her path that she loved and was loved and adored by them as well. Ivy’s presence will be missed by her husband, Widnir, her mother, her sons, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, siblings and spouses, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and church family.

Ivy Lee Francois

March 16, 1955 - May 18, 2023