Mariana Middleton Francis

Mariana peacefully left this earth on Friday, November 7, 2025, at the age of 99 years old, surrounded by family.

Mariana Middleton Francis was born June 28, 1926, in Texarkana, Texas to Frank and Marion Hodges Middleton.

As a young child, Mariana’s family moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, where she lived for the nearly 50 years. Mariana attended Byrd High School in Shreveport and Louisiana College in Pineville. She was an active member at First Baptist Church of Shreveport, where she met and married the love of her life, Marcus (Mark) Aurelius Francis and they had three children together. Mark and Mariana eventually moved their family to Houston, Texas in 1976, where she called home for the rest of her life.

Mariana lived a full life dedicated to Christ, her family, and her friends. She made it her life’s work to create a home where her husband and children came first. Mariana was a faithful member of Westbury Baptist Church for over 40 years, where she taught Sunday School and preschool in the Mother’s Day Out program.

Mariana loved reading her bible, playing games, working on puzzles, and spending time with family and friends. She was a friend to all that knew her, and she lit up the room with her outgoing, positive energy, her warm spirit, and her strength.

Mariana was proceeded in death by her loving husband of 50 years, Mark Francis, & her beloved daughter, Ruth Ann Hollon.

She is survived by her son, Donald Francis (Jennifer); daughter, Karen Zylicz (Lohn); son in law, Elvin Hollon (Marilyn); Eight grandchildren: Benjamin Hollon (Katie), Melissa Burnett (Chris), William Francis (Jennifer), Caroline Dufour (Aaron), Jonathan Francis, Joshua Francis, Luke Zylicz, and Zack Zylicz; Three great grandchildren: Hadley Hollon, Grayson Hollon, and Cade Hollon; Mariana was also blessed to have had Jaune’ Brown as her devoted, loving care taker and dear friend for the past decade.

A celebration of her life will take place at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Freeway in Houston, Saturday, November 15th, 2025, at 11am. There will be visitation beforehand starting at 10am.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Mariana’s memory with donations made to the American Heart Association or the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research.