Mary “Frances” Payne Franklin

Mrs. Mary “Frances” Payne Franklin, also known to many as Granny passed away Thursday, March 7, 2019 at her home.

A daughter of the late James “Jim” Ira Payne and Mary Murray Payne, she was born May 9, 1928 in Stephens County, Georgia where she lived all her life. She was retired from Fieldale Farms and was a charter member of the Wiley Church of God. She enjoyed traveling especially to the beach, loved flowers, cooking for her family and loved her dog, Lulu and her cat, Blue. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, J.A. “Tom” Franklin in 2012 and by her siblings and their spouses, Essie and Marion Hancox, Dawson and Willene Payne, Effie and Hubert Black, William “Bill” Richard Payne, Georgia and Charlie Sellers and Johnny Payne.

Survivors include her children and their spouses, Pat Franklin of Toccoa, Robert and Nancy Franklin of Carnesville, Brenda and Mike Jones of Toccoa, Janice and Gary Rice of Martin, Mary and Gary Bentley of Toccoa, Ronnie Franklin of Toccoa, Deborah Wilkinson Franklin of Toccoa, Artie and Jeff Conner of Mountain City and Joy and Rafael Guadalupe of Toccoa; sister, Sally Sellers of Toccoa; two grandchildren that Frances helped raise and loved like her own, Mitch Franklin of Jacksonville, Florida and Hannah Franklin of Toccoa; two close friends, Clara Dailey and Doris Carpenter both of Clayton, Georgia; grandchildren and their spouses, Kenny Franklin, Tommy and Patience Franklin, Jay and Amy Franklin, Robert Franklin, Jason Rice, Ashley Rice, Amy Perteet, Jessica and Jared Coleman, Mitch and Alyssa Franklin, Hannah Franklin, Jarod Guadalupe and Jana Guadalupe; thirteen great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Saturday, March 9, 2019, 11 O’clock a.m. in the Hillcrest Chapel of the Acree-Davis Funeral Home with Pastor Lester Cowan and Pastor Adam Wright officiating. The following will serve as pallbearers, Kenny Franklin, Tommy Franklin, Jay Franklin, Jason Rice, Jarod Guadalupe and Mark Arrowood.

The family will receive friends at the Acree-Davis Funeral Home on Friday, 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Online condolences can be made by visiting the website at www.acree-davisfh.com.

Interment will follow in the Stephens Memorial Gardens with Pastor Gary Ledford officiating. The Acree-Davis Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mrs. Mary “Frances” Franklin.