A lifetime of love seems barely enough for Reverend Earle Manford Francis, 90, and his wife Marjorie Eloise "Sweet Potato" Francis nee Taylor (84). The couple who met decades ago when they were teenagers will officially have been married for 65 years on June 29. Although time and history has passed, the couple is still holding on strong to their love. They say that sometimes they feel like it was merely yesterday that they began their journey of love together.
"Sweet Potato" as Rev. Francis loves to refer to his wife vividly remembers meeting her husband in Salem Baptist Church on Parliament Street. At that time she says that was the place to meet other young people that your parents approved of and who were "into the right things". She described meeting a nice-looking young man who was active in the church and that she liked that about him right away.
"He had his eye on a number of other young ladies in the church but I guess I must have stood out more since I was the one he chose," said Sweet Potato.
Theirs was a courting that bordered on six years and eventually led to their marriage in 1947. It was a journey they were delighted that they took. They believed their extended courtship made them more passionate about each other, and simultaneously brought them closer. He said it also helped them remain more clear-headed when they entered their marriage.
Rev. Francis said when they got married - he was 26, his Sweet Potato was 19 - that they were ready. They had a home to move into and he had a job already lined up to take care of his future family.
The couple were married on a Sunday morning at 6 a.m. at the church where they met.
"Everything about my wife was perfect -- her love, demeanor, concern for me ... everything. I still love her and it still feels like we first met."
At the time Rev. Francis worked as a waiter at City Club, in downtown Nassau. It was almost 15 years into their marriage that he says he got the call from the Lord to enter pastoral ministry. He was commissioned by his pastor, Reverend Enoch Beckford Sr. to take over Salem Baptist Grove Mission on Baillou Hill Road. A year later in 1965, he changed the name to First Baptist Church.
His Sweet Potato was there to support and encourage him in his journey as a minister, joining him in studies in seminary school at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky from 1977 to 1979. She knew piano before but learnt the organ officially while there as well. Besides being a typist and working as a payroll officer by profession at the British Colonial Hotel to support her husband in his religious endeavors, she became even more active in the church by joining numerous groups. She played the organ at services for over 60 years.
Sweet Potato said it was a pleasure to be of service to God and to her husband. And said she has always done what she could to do her part and serve to the best of her abilities. She said she has not regretted loving and standing by her husband. Her marriage is one she said has been filled with understanding, respect, appreciation and devotion.
"This is not to say we did not have our arguments, but we did know how to resolve them before we went to bed. We treat each other well and just genuinely love each other more than we disagree," she says.
This is still a key factor in the marriage today which has been blessed with 13 children - six boys and seven girls, 11 of whom are still alive - Percival Earle "Vola" Francis, Florence Louise Taylor, Dr. Emmanuel Leslie Francis, Dr. Walstone Elisha Francis, Reverend Wilkinson Larry Francis, Charlotte Catherine Humes, Barbara Jemima Darville, Joan Marjorie Knowles, Mary Evangeline Francis, Reverend Joseph Earle Francis and Reverend Dianna Francis. Margaret Alicia Francis Dames and Keith Charles Edward Francis predeceased their parents.
Reverend Francis believes the fact that he and his wife never even thought about divorce kept their marriage strong. "We had our storms and disagreements but we made it through it all without throwing in the towel." He said they never let the sun go down on their wrath when problems arose.
"Every marriage has problems because some rain must fall -- but we never let it get to the stage where we feel nothing is irreconcilable. We ensured we maintained our good relationship and fellowship. We always tried to be understanding and most of all we have plenty of love."
Although they were young the Francises say they took marriage seriously and took into consideration everything being married meant.
Sweet Potato said she was always careful about what she said or how she reacted to situations in their marriage that she disliked. She said she took to heart the Bible verses that speak of the power of the tongue being able to produce good and evil. And that no matter how upset she was or how she would've wanted to respond she always thought it over and used her words carefully.
"I used my words to bless rather than curse. We are not perfect. I was always cautious. I made a commitment when I took my vows and I meant it," she said. "I ensured I didn't get angry because I was determined my marriage would work. When we argued or were in trouble I also ensured I prayed so we could overcome everything. We were big on praying because it really does change things. God's word is the lamp to our feet and light to our pathway. This is another secret to our long marriage."
She advises young people marrying today to ensure that their partner is a Christian and serious about God. She said this does not necessarily mean he or she goes to church religiously, but that they are serious about God's work and letting Him shine in their lives. Sweet Potato said they can't go wrong if they at least have this. She also said it is important to be able to be themselves around the person and that they should feel good showing their love. While she is her husband's Sweet Potato, she lovingly refers to him as her "Watermelon" - which for her is a gesture of love as well as a playful jab at his growing tummy that reminds her of the juicy fruit.
Rev. Francis said ensuring they keep the love alive by sharing what they love with each other and never starting or finishing the day without saying that they love each other is also important. He said showing love by being affectionate and considerate is another genuine way to strengthen a marriage.
"For the last 15 years my wife and I have been renewing our marriage because it's a romantic and sentimental thing to do. We appreciate our marriage and show it by renewing it. We want to strengthen it by doing this. It is a wonderful thing that we do and it shows that we truly love one another."
They may be up in age, but Rev. Francis still expects his marriage to get sweeter and sweeter and that the love and joy he has shared with his Sweet Potato will only increase. He feels that problems in marriage are guaranteed to come, but he and his wife have been facing them for so long that nothing can come that will diminish what they have.
The couple's last child, Rev. Diana Francis, 40, said her parents' marriage is an inspiration to her and that she dreams of having that type of relationship one day.
"What I love about my parents is that they have such a strong relationship. They have been together so long but they are still two distinct individuals. They don't lose their individuality like many people do in a marriage. They are still two people who love being themselves and sharing their lives with one another. Although they are different they compromise with one another by giving way for the better good. They've not been perfect as I've seen them argue on points, but I also see them still resolve it and get over what they disagreed on. They really love one another. They are concerned about one another. They compliment one another and are a real team. Where she is strong, he is weak and vice versa. They really push one another."
Through their example she has learnt the importance of friendship in marriage, understanding each other's roles, mutually supporting each other, being respectful, being a team and alway leaning on the Lord in the good and bad times.
She said she would be fortunate to have her parents' kind of love one day and is grateful for the example to make reference to in her future relationships. Because of them she said she will not be able to settle or just accept anything less than the best due to the ideal environment her parents' marriage created for her and her siblings.

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