MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Mourners who gathered for the thanksgiving service for the life of 52-year-old Councillor Cleon “Pancho” Francis on Sunday remembered him for his dedication to the Knockpatrick Division and his bipartisan approach as a politician.

Francis, the operator of Top Notch Block Factory in the Sunset community (south-west of Mandeville), entered representational politics in 2012 as a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate polling 2,009 votes to win the Knockpatrick Division over the People’s National Party’s candidate Goyfield Harrison’s by 152 votes.

He died on July 8 after being hospitalised for close to a month.

JLP leader and Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who was among those from the party and Government paying tribute to Francis, lauded the late councillor.

“Pancho not just served, but he gave to the poor, to the less fortunate, to the people in his community, whether it is the football competition, the back-to-school treat, it is his Christmas treat or the blocks from his hardware, or the water, or the money that you begged him,” Holness said during his address to mourners at Northern Caribbean University.

“If you look at the life of Pancho as an example… he was dedicated to his division and his constituency. He was not petty and partisan. He worked across party lines and he served everyone. Remember now, Pancho did not inherit a safe seat, it was because of his effort and his work why the people decided to give him a chance one time, and then to give it back to him another time,” he added.

Manchester Central Member of Parliament Rhoda Crawford described Francis as a generous soul.

“Whatever resources he received for the Knockpatrick Division he was quick to share with our councillor/caretakers in the Mandeville, Royal Flat, and Bellefield divisions. His rationale was that the needs are plenty, so whatever he could do to help our divisional leaders and to ease my burdens that is precisely what he was prepared to do,” said Crawford.

Mayor of Mandeville Donovan Mitchell (People’s National Party, Royal Flat Division), who wore a green tie as a symbol of tribute to Francis, said his colleague was exemplary.

“I have served in my time as councillor with three councillors from the Knockpatrick Division and I have known of about another three or four, and without fear of anybody wanting to say anything, Pancho stands out,” said Mitchell.

“I want to say to the people of his division, the best legacy you can give is to keep his memories alive in you,” he added.

Tributes flowed from Francis’s son Nathaniel, senior members of the JLP, Member of Parliament for Manchester North Western, the People’s National Party’s Mikael Phillips, and Francis’s constituents.

Francis was interred at a family plot on Ellen Street in Manchester.