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William Thomas Francis, a
leader in church, education, and community was born May 15, 1884,
the son of Samuel and
Lettie Mullins Francis. He was an Old Regular Baptist minister
for almost 70 years, was instrumental in starting Carr Creek
School, and served as Knott County Court Clerk, 1914-1917.
Mr. Francis often told that the
day he was born, he "went to sleep in
Letcher County and woke up in Knott County," the time of his birth
was also the time that Knott County was formed from pieces of surrounding
counties.
W. T. started reading the bible
to his grandfather at a very young
age. He studied the bible every day as long as he was able. He
walked,
rode horseback, and his later years drove throughout Eastern
Kentucky
and other states, preaching the gospel. baptizing converts,
performing weddings, visiting the sick and
preaching at funerals.
In 1921, he gave a portion of the land which he had inherited from
his father to build the Carr Creek Community Center. He hoped
there
would eventually be a high school there, close to home for students
in the area. W. T. asked a young widow named Margaret to be
house
mother for the students residing at Carr Creek school. Later,
Francis became Margaret's husband and stepfather to her son, Ronnie.
The first Carr Creek High
School graduating class, 1927, consisted of seven students;. Hundreds of students followed until the
school's
closing in 1973, when county high schools were consolidated. Carr
Creek Elementary continues to serve hundreds of students in
grades K-8. Many educators in Knott and surrounding counties
began their careers as students in the school established with the
help of Rev. Francis.
It was primarily through the
efforts of W. T. Francis that the
Providence Old Regular Baptist Church was organized; he was
moderator of the church as long as he was physically capable.
Brother Willie decided that
when he died, he wanted to be buried in a shroud made of material
from the holy Land. He obtained the white (probably
linen) material, and ,as requested, a shroud was made for him from
it; he was buried in hid family cemetery near the old Carr Creek
High School at the age of 91. Corbett Mullins
May 4, 2003 |
