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Obituary For George Franklin
The Governor of South Carolina advises to limit public gatherings to 50 guests or less to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Smith Funeral Home of Florence, LLC carefully considered this recommendation and ask that additional guest please participate via live-streaming if it is authorized by the family.
A Private Funeral Service for Mr. George Edward Franklin will be conducted 11:00 AM Saturday, July 25, 2020 at J. O. & Annette Smith Memorial Chapel, 307 South Johns Street, Florence, SC., directed by Smith Funeral Home of Florence, LLC.
Mr. George Edward Franklin, the son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Augustus (Annie) Franklin, Jr. was born October 21, 1947, in Darlington, South Carolina. “Jimmy” as he was affectionately known to many was raised by his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Willie Boyden (Annie) Shaw, Jr. in Jamaica Queens, Long Island, New York and his grandparents, Reverend and Mrs. James Matthew (Leathia) Brown in Brooklyn, New York. He passed away at home on Sunday, July 19, 2020.
At an early age, George attended P.S. 308 Clara Cardwell Elementary School in Brooklyn, New York and Shimer Junior High School in Jamaica, Queens, New York. After relocating to Darlington, South Carolina with his parents, he attended Mayo High School and was a proud graduate. He furthered his education at Florence-Darlington Technical School as an Auto Mechanic.
On July 30, 1973, he was joined in marriage to his lovely wife, Joyce Byrd Franklin and God blessed them with two wonderful children, Brian (Evelyn) Franklin and Joy (Eugene) Champion.
George worked as a dedicated and loyal bus driver for Greyhound Bus Lines for over 20 years. He was also a committed truck driver at Curtis Oil in Darlington, South Carolina and Reddy Ice in Florence, South Carolina. While in High School, George drove school buses … his brother, Butchie and his sister, Marlena were two of his actual passengers.
George was preceded in death by his father, Augustus Franklin, Jr; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Boyden (Annie) Shaw, Jr; his grandparents, Reverend and Mrs. James Matthew (Leathia) Brown; and great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel (Annie) Simpson; and a brother, Willie “Butchie” Shaw.
George leaves to cherish his memories: his wife of 47 years, Joyce Franklin; two children, Brian (Evelyn) Franklin of Columbia, South Carolina and Joy (Eugene) Champion of Fredericksburg, Virginia; five grandchildren, Analisa Letice Thornton and Sharyce Ardell Franklin both of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Alexandria Elaine Alston, Archie Lee Alston, III and Miles Edward Champion (named after his grandfather) all of Fredericksburg, Virginia; two sisters, Hilton (Frank, Jr.) Shaw-Gilbert of Columbia, South Carolina and Marlena Shaw-Wright of Darlington, South Carolina; four brothers, Richard (Margaret) Olds of Conyers, Georgia, Earl (Theresa) Franklin of Darlington, South Carolina, Harvey (Barbara) Franklin of Florence, South Carolina, and Marvin “Glenn” (Cynthia) Franklin of Darlington, South Carolina; five sisters-in-law, Gloria Anderson of Clinton, South Carolina, Christine (James) Jones of Clinton, South Carolina, Julia (Marcelles) Barr of Thomson, Georgia, Kathy (Calvin) Bryant of Columbia, South Carolina, Bertha Shaw of Darlington, South Carolina; three brothers-in-law, Lumus Byrd, Jr of Clinton, South Carolina, Robert Byrd of Clinton, South Carolina, and George Byrd of Columbia, South Carolina; and a host of nephews; nieces; other relatives; and friends.
Public Viewing and Family Visitation will be held 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Friday, July 24, 2020 at J. O. & Annette Smith Memorial Chapel, 307 S. Johns St., Florence, SC.
Please keep the family or Mr. George Franklin in your thoughts and prayers.
Photos & Video
Condolences & Tributes
Add A CondolenceJoyce to you and your family, I extend my heartfelt condolences. You all are in my thoughts and prayers. Joannie Williams, Florence,S.C.
Heartfelt sympathy to JJEG9Joyce and her entire family. Have walked the road you are traveling and I can assure you God has you in his hands.Thoughts and prayers are with the entire family. Cynthia Henry Dickey.
To the Franklin you are in my thoughts today and the days my God continue Bless and Keep you close to his heart
Marlene,
Please accept my sincere condolences in the passing of your brother. May you and your family find comfort in his transition to the next phase of his eternity.
Respectively, Jerome Richardson
Sending heartfelt prayers for courage and strength to the entire family.Know that you are loved and remembered. Judy & Marchette Alexander
Praying for comfort and strength for you and your family during this time!
May God grant your family with special blessings & peace during this most difficult time. Cousins Shirl, Trey & Bob Davis
Many prayers for continued strength and comfort.Sending virtual hugs to you all- Kelly Jackson
The Class of 1992 (Mayo High School, Darlington SC) would like to extend their heartfelt condolences to our classmate, Brian and our friend Joy during this difficult time. You are in our prayers. God bless you!
When we lived in Darlington, we could not have asked for any nicer neighbors than George and Joyce Franklin. Mr. Franklin was always there with a joke or two to keep everyone on their toes! Mrs. Franklin just shaking her head and waiting for a break to get us back on the topic of community! You came as a pair, always sharing food, ideas, fun and the grandchildren! We will miss you, Mr. Franklin, but we understand God does not make mistakes. So, He must have needed you to liven things up in heaven, after this dreadful pandemic! We know the Angels halos will be tossed to the side after you tell them your jokes about all of us! Rest easy dear friend! We love you and promise to keep a check on your "Beloved Joyce"! Our deepest sympathy to Mrs. Joyce Franklin, the children, grandchildren and the Franklin-Shaw Family. Peace and Prayers, Ernest and Gwen Coe
Condolences to the families. We are praying for you all. Jimmy will forever be in our hearts. Ella B. Arthur and Teresa Arthur Stevenson
Jimmy, I met you a short time ago and though our encounter was brief I declared you MY Brother! Your sister Marlena said okay we will hold you to that. I thought surely we would have many more times to laugh and talk about life. It didn't work out so I will just continue to Love Marlena and Hilton!
I remember George from the old neighborhood. A kind gentleman. Kept you laughing. Condolences to the family. Family Friend Rosa Hudson.
You called me "Squirt" because I was short and I called you my protector - my conscience - my friend and most of all my big brother. I feel saddened, empty and lost at the thought of absence being a permanent one. Your quiet strength kept you from wearing your emotions on your sleeve but I have never felt more loved than by you. I am grateful for videos, phone messages and photos - this will forever keep you close to me at heart. You keep our grandmothers, momma, daddy, Gabrielle and Butchie well entertained up there. Until we meet again big brother - Your Baby Sister Hilton aka "Squirt"
Our staff will continue to keep your family in our prayers. We thank you for allowing us to serve your family.
