Joe

Edward Franklin

Mr. Joe Franklin was born on January 31, 1945, to the late Willie and Lucille Franklin in Thomasville, Georgia. He was the grandson of the late Matthew and Annie Turner.

At an early age, Joe joined New Jerusalem Baptist Church. He attended Douglass Elementary and Douglass High School, graduating with the class of 1964. Joe played football as a quarterback, and his teammates called him "The Bumble Bee" because he ran so fast.

Joe enjoyed watching football, basketball, and old western movies, and he kept up with the morning and evening news.

After graduation, he attended Walton Area Technical School, where he received his certificate in Auto Body Shop as a painter. He restored old cars to look like new, and also painted houses. Joe was very active until his health started to decline.

Joe retired from Coast & Clarks, then continued working as a painter and as a custodian for the Valdosta, Georgia schools. After resting for a short period of time, he worked at Wild Adventures Theme Park before retiring again.

After retiring, he enjoyed playing golf daily and fishing. At Sweetfield Missionary Baptist Church in Quitman, Georgia, Joe sang in the choir and served on the Trustee Board before he was later ordained as a Deacon.

He Leaves to cherish his memory, his Beloved Wife, Mrs. Mary Newsome Franklin; his children, Andrewetta McNeil; Dr. Sonja Smith (Donnie); and son, Joe Edward Franklin Jr. (Selena), all of Thomasville, GA; sisters, Lucille Franklin Hall, Valdosta, GA, Andrewetta Gaffney, Atlanta, GA, and Gwendolyn Franklin, Boston, GA; grandchildren, Kaneshia McNeil and Donald McNeil (Courtney); great-grandchildren, Jordyn, Jayran, Aubrey McNeil, and Kaylyn Florence; great - great - grandchildren, Tre, Zarien, and Harien; sister-in-law, Lillie Ruth Newsome; brothers-in-law, Willie Frank Newsome (Annette) and Charles Newsome (Shirley); special nephew, Ronald Presha Sr. (Essie); special friends, Robert Bass and Arthur Curry; nieces, Zaronica Clark (Tyler); Erika Stacey (Darett), Diane Burnett, Monica Austin, Kathy Franklin, Lucy and Marilyn Cook, Felecia Franklin, and Natalie Cook; nephews, Kelly D. Burke III, Carl Franklin, Archie Brian Cone III, Stanley Clark, Terry Franklin, and Anthony Cook. He also leaves a host of great nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends - and his companion family dog, Chipotle.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Annie Bell Presha, Lelo Clark, Isabelle Brown, and Lena Mae Navarro; brothers, Tommy, Roosevelt, and Jack Franklin; nephews, Nathaniel, Donnie, Harold Presha, and Roosevelt (Von) Franklin; brothers-in-law, Cornelius Gaffney, Roosevelt Clark, Prophet Jerry Newsome, James Newsome and special cousin, William (Bill) Turner.