THE wife of Darlington Mayor Councillor Roderick Francis, has died after a long illness.

Marjorie Francis, 68, died at the couple's home on the Firthmoor estate, in the town, on Friday.

The couple had been married for 45 years. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Mrs Francis was born and brought up in Darlington.

She and Coun Francis married at the town's Register Office in 1958.

Their marriage was later blessed at St Teresa's Church, in Harris Street.

Mrs Francis lived in the Firthmoor area of Darlington for the majority of their married life. She had worked as a cook in the restaurant at the Binns department store in the town, and at Crombies restaurant.

Coun Francis, who is Darlington's first black mayor, said: "She was a good mother and a good wife. A cheerful person, who was very kind. she never refused to do something to help.

"She visited the sick when she was in the Legion of Mary.

"She has been unwell since 1994, but we stuck together through thick and thin and we had a good life."

A funeral service for Mrs Francis will take place at St Teresa's Church on Monday, at 11am, followed by burial at West Cemetery.