Adran Lamont Francis, Sr.

Adran Francis was born on August 13, 1985, at Holy Family Hospital in Spokane, WA to his parents, Glenda Francis and Dennis Slaughter. From the moment he arrived, Adran had a way of standing out. A nun named Tessa, who worked in the nursery, was immediately drawn to him. She held him more than any of the other newborns—so much so that even his mother noticed something unique was happening. It seemed Adran sensed it too, lifting his head as if to take in the world and ask, “What’s going on?” When the nurse finally placed him in his mother’s arms, she said, “Here is your gift. Take good care of him—he’s going to be someone special.”

As a child, Adran carried a wisdom beyond his years. Many described him as an “old soul.” By third grade, he was academically advanced enough to attend fourth-grade classes, and he often told his mother how much he loved reading, describing it as his one-on-one time with God and a way to clear his mind.

He attended Ridgeview and Bemiss Elementary Schools, where his confidence in who he was shined early as he proudly wore MC Hammer pants to entertain his teachers and classmates, and while other kids wore brand-name sneakers, Adran rocked penny loafers, complete with the penny in each shoe. Adran attended Garry Middle School, Rogers and Havermale High School, and later graduated from Clallam Bay High School in 2002. During his time at Havermale, his basketball team advanced to the state championship game and became state champions in 2001.

Adran met the love of his life, Danielle Fletcher, in the sixth grade. He asked his friend to ask her friend if she would be his girlfriend—and Danielle of course said yes. They remained best friends throughout high school and reconnected at age 24, becoming inseparable from that moment on. No matter how life pulled them apart, they always found their way back to each other. They called themselves “DNA”—Dani & Adran—two parts of a whole. They married in 2023 and together had six beautiful children who completed their union.

Adran was forever a child at heart, he loved cartoons, sports, and music. He was highly intelligent and articulate; his friends would often give him a bad time about “using all those big words.” Adran was a natural poet and wrote songs as quick as he could think of them, and we all knew how quickly Adran could think and talk. Adran also had a special passion for working with youth. His lifelong love for the Ninja Turtles inspired the name of his sons Hoopfest team that he himself coached. He was a devoted San Francisco 49ers fan and a loyal fan of Nipsey Hussle. His favorite Nipsey album, The Marathon Continues, is the message that now carries his legacy forward. One of his cherished quotes was Tupac’s “The Rose That Grew From Concrete,” which he re-imagined in his own poetic way:

“The rose that grew from what they taught him was concrete, only to build a runway and learn to fly.”

Adran lived these words, turning adversity meant to bury him into the very foundation that lifted him toward his dreams.

In 2022–2023, he joined Spokane Public Schools in the Family and Community Engagement department, giving him an opportunity to support at-risk youth through the lens of lived experience. He became a mentor and group facilitator with the YMAD (Young Men Achieving Destiny) program, where he poured into youth at Yasuhara, Shaw, Glover Middle Schools, and Rogers and Shadle Park High Schools. One of his proudest moments was awarding completion certificates to several young men who finished the YMAD program—proof that his labor and love were not in vain.

One day, Adran told his mother that he didn’t believe he would be here long, saying, “People like me are put here to make people smile, to make people laugh, and to be a bridge for families to heal and come back together again.”

He lived with purpose, and as scripture reminds us, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Though we wish heaven gave us more time, Adran ran his race and finished his course. Now, his story becomes his legacy—and through his children, The Marathon Continues.

Adran is survived by his loving wife, Danielle Fletcher; and his six beautiful children:

• Adran LaMont Francis Jr. (22) of Spokane

• Malik JuJuan Fletcher (21) of Las Vegas

• Mekhi ZayShawn Fletcher (21) of Spokane

• Ileeyah NaShayla Rachel Fletcher (20) of Spokane

• Laelia (Zoe) Zoelle Francis (15) of Spokane

• A’Suh LaMont Francis (18 months) of Spokane

He is also survived by his mother, Glenda Francis of Spokane; his siblings Le’Tisha Francis, Frank Graham Jr, and Will Enochs of Spokane. His partner and best friend in their group AmeriKane Poetz, Justin Rogers of Spokane; His closest childhood friend Anthony Burden who Adran had known since they were 8 years old. This was Adran's ride or die from day one until the end. As well as some of his other childhood best friends; Sterling O’Neal, Barry Gardner, Kyle Kiesel, and the many people that called him brother. Adran had many nieces, nephews, a great niece, grandchildren, and an entire village of people who loved him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Floyd Baker; his maternal uncle, Gerald Darrell; his father, Dennis Slaughter; his paternal grandfather Benjamin Wayne; and his cousin Lorenzo Lamont Hayes.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, December 19, 2025, at 10 AM at Sunset Chapel, Fairmount Memorial Park, 5200 W. Wellesley, Spokane, Washington with burial to follow.