Bertha "Francine" Starr Thomas was born August, 13, 1951 to Mattielou Toler and Stacy Starr. During her early childhood years she attended school in Arp Texas. She later attended and graduated from Skyline High School in Dallas Texas. This was followed by college in West Texas at Sul Ross State University and Texas Woman's University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This provided her access to a career that became a passion for helping others that remained throughout her life.

In October 1974, Francine met and married Alfonso Thomas in Houston Texas. This union produced one child, Staci LaTrece Thomas. Francine later returned to her hometown, residing in both Arp and Tyler, Texas while working at the University of Texas Health Center for 28 years before retiring. She later, unable to resist the urge to work and help others, returned to work at East Texas Medical Center for 3 years before retiring a 2nd time. In her final years, Francine was very active in her childhood church, New Home Baptist Church "where everybody is somebody", participating in the choir, Women's Auxiliary, and acting as President of the Usher Board. She additionally enjoyed hobbies that included baking, Pilates and full-body workouts at her local gym.

Francine was preceded in death by her father Stacy Starr, mother Mattielou Starr, sisters Mildred (in childhood), Minnie Pearl Tisby, Betty Sanders, Carrie Dean McGee, and brothers, Archibald Wallace and John Frank Wallace.