Francine W. Mallory

Francine Chyrle Williams Mallory passed away on June 22, 2025 after a prolonged battle with illness. Until the end, Francine kept her faith, grace, appreciation, kindness, compassion, and fierce independence.She held a strong love for her family and friends, and a deep commitment to both God and education.

Francine was born to George Junious and Frances Virginia Williams, in Newport News, Virginia on September 16, 1948. She enjoyed a wonderful childhood where she began her love for books and reading. She graduated from Huntington High School and went on to attend Norfolk State University where she acquired her Bachelor of Arts Degree in History with a focus on Teaching. Upon graduation, she taught high school History in the York County Public School System in York County, Virginia. In an effort to further her education, she moved to Charlottesville, Virginia to attend the University of Virginia (UVA). While pursuing her Master of Science in Education, she met her husband, Robert Lee Mallory. After graduating from the program and they soon married and had two lovely children, Seneca and Robyn. While at UVA, she also attained her postgraduate professional degree as an Education Specialist.

Francine was a strong advocate for education and teaching. Her love for both kept her in education for several decades. From starting her career as a history teacher, she moved into guidance and counseling and was the Lead Counselor for many years. She later became Assistant Principal and began to contemplate becoming a principal. After attaining her postgraduate degree, she began to seek Principal positions and was offered a position in North Carolina with Guilford County Public Schools. She moved to High Point, North Carolina from Esmont, Virginia and ended her illustrious career at Clara J. Peck Elementary School in Greensboro, North Carolina. She stayed at Peck for 13 years after receiving many accolades for her creative school programs. This led to her school being highly successful and her becoming Principal of the Year. She retired from Peck in 2015. Although retired, she never completely stopped working and teaching. She began to work at NC Works where she taught in-person adult classes preparing them for career testing. After Covid, she administered tests for adult students pursuing a GED via Zoom.

Francine was often described as independent, intelligent, resilient and open-minded. She liked to keep informed on and discuss politics, as well as science and various aspects of the natural world. She always maintained her zeal for history and loved to travel to historical sites. She loved sports and was an avid spectator of football and basketball games. She derived great enjoyment from classic films and television shows, including the many incarnations of Godzilla, various versions of Sherlock Holmes, and a great many adaptations of A Christmas Carol.

Francine had a deep faith and loved the Lord. Immediately upon moving into North Carolina, she quickly started to seek a church home. She joined Williams Memorial CME Church in High Point, NC where she joined Christian Education and taught Children’s church for years. She served on various church committees and became a graceful Praise dancer. She directed original church plays for Christmas and Easter. During Covid, she continued her passions for the Lord and teaching and most notably, began teaching the adult Sunday School class on Sunday morning via Zoom. Once Covid was over, her classes continued on Saturday morning and she lovingly referred to it as the “Saturday-Sunday” School class. It was greatly enjoyed by many with her students spanning three states.

Francine is survived by her children, Seneca Maxwell and Robyn Lynette Mallory, their father Robert Lee Mallory, her siblings Keith T. Williams and Audrey LaMar Williams, sister-in-law Ellen V. Williams, niece Kescha L. Williams, and many cousins. She was met in Heaven by her parents, brother George Elmore Williams, nephew George Elmore Williams Jr., aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends. She will always remain in the hearts of her family and her many close friends.

Memorial service will be held Friday July 18, 2025 at 12:00 pm, Williams Memorial CME Church, 3400 Triangle Lake Dr., High Point, NC 27260.

Hanes-Lineberry Sedgefield Chapel is honored to serve the Mallory family.