Cheryl Valerie Barnes Francis was born on St. Croix, Virgin Islands, and graduated from William Howard Taft High School of New York in 1972.   At that time, Cheryl and her family moved back to the Virgin Islands where she was then employed at the Virgin Islands Telephone Company also known as Innovative Telephone Corporation. During her tenure, she progressed through the ranks in challenging positions, ranging from Customer Service Representative, to Supervisor of the Business Office, Manager of the Service Center, Manager of the Business Office, and ultimately, Director of Business Office Operations on all three Islands.
This tenure lasted for 29 years. Cheryl also received training and certification in Atlanta, Georgia as a Legal Administrative Assistant, Real Estate Agent with Re/Max, and Associate Broker with Solid Source Realty.  Like most women of this community, Mrs. Francis juggled her life as a working mother, wife and homemaker. Her focus has always been to ensure that her children understood the importance of having a good education as a requirement in the foundation of becoming successful adults.

Mrs. Francis is passionate about people and, in particular, children.  She has joined her husband, the Honorable Lieutenant Governor Gregory R. Francis, in his quest to enrich the lives of ALL Virgin Islanders.  Mrs. Francis’ vision and creation of her foundation, “Stop the Bleeding,  Inc.”, and her chairmanship of “Junior Achievement of the V.I.”, (JAVI), continues her on the mission and drive to support her community in activities, and initiatives such as American Cancer Society, Member of St. Croix Women’s Initiative, for the betterment of families and youth of our United States Virgin Islands.   As an elected member of the 16th Board of Education, she is especially in tune with our children’s needs, and is determined to encourage, support  and enable them to succeed on their path to bright futures and safe lives.