Martha Loretta Rice Franklin (August 26, 1933 - December 17, 2023 )

 

Martha Rice Franklin, 90, entered into the presence of her Lord, and Savior, on Sunday, December 17, 2023.  She was born on August 26, 1933, in Caroleen, NC, a daughter of the late John Sherman Rice and Ethel Mae Allen Rice. For over 66 years she was the devoted and loving wife of the late Rev. Homer Eugene Franklin. 

Martha and her late husband were founders of Calvary Baptist Church of Cowpens, SC. Her ministry was serving the Lord by playing the piano, being a longtime Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher, and supporting her church any way that she could. Martha and her husband also led church services at White Oak Estates for many years. 

A dedicated and hard worker, Martha retired from Pentex (Alcon) in Cowpens and formerly was employed with Converse Mills. 

Martha is survived by her children, Tim Franklin (Cindy) of Lawrenceville, Ga, Deborah F. Logan (Charlie) of Jacksonville, FL, and Loretta Franklin of Boiling Springs, SC; 8 grandchildren, Kenny Arthur, Ben Arthur, Jonathan Logan, April Wyatt, Philip Logan, Joshua Franklin, Stephen Franklin and Brandon Franklin; and 25 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Stephen Anthony Franklin, and siblings, Louise McDaniel and James Rice. 

The family will receive friends from 1:00-1:45 p.m. Thursday, December 28, 2023, at Calvary Baptist Church of Cowpens, 451 Pleasant Valley Road, Spartanburg, SC 29307. Funeral service will follow in the sanctuary at 2:00 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Jeff Jones and the Rev. Joshua Franklin.  Burial will be in the church cemetery. 

The family will be at the home. 

Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church of Cowpens, P.O. Box 1811, Cowpens, SC 29330. 

Floyd’s North Church Street 

OBITUARY AND SLIDE VIDEO posted at https://www.floydmortuary.com/obituaries/martha-franklin

Old Family Photos

 Just found this photo of my mother, Martha Rice (Franklin) which was taken at age 13 1/2 or 14 years of age.   I think this is about the age she caught her "future" husband's eye while she was playing piano at a revival service.  

Winnifred Marie Richardson Baggett (May 8, 1935 - September 4, 2021)

 Winnifred Marie (Richardson) Baggett of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, was born May 8, 1935, in Mahaska, Kansas, and was reared in Dorchester, Nebraska, and met her Savior on September 4, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Elden and Daisy May (Simpson) Richardson; her husband, Joel L. Baggett; son, John D. Baggett; and numerous brothers and sisters.

She leaves behind to mourn one daughter, Cindy (Tim) Franklin; two sons, Sam Baggett, and Carl (Sharon) Baggett; grandchildren, Joshua (Janelle) Franklin, Stephen (Leah) Franklin, Brandon(Rachel)Franklin, Talitha Cabrera, Kim (Doug) Alexander, Jesse Baggett, Airel (Haley) Baggett, Josie Baggett, Brandy McDonald, Jeremiah (Catie) Baggett, Joel (Betty) Baggett; 31 great grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren; brother, William D. “Shorty” Richardson; sisters-in-law, Robbie (Joel) Blackstock and Roxy Baggett; brothers-in-law, David (Jo Ann) Baggett, and Leslie (Pam) Baggett; many nieces and nephews, and a whole host of friends.

While predominately a homemaker, she was employed at Young’s Cleaners in Pine Bluff, and The Pasadena Citizen in Pasadena, Texas, where she formed lasting friendships with her work family. Her hobbies included traveling to visit family and friends, and collecting owls. She loved large get-togethers with family and friends, where she was always serving on the clean-up committee.

She was a faithful member of Victory Baptist Church.

Visitation will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, September 11, 2021, at Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors, 807 Cherry Street Pine Bluff, AR 71601, followed by a celebration of her life at 11:00 A.M., with Rev. Joshua Franklin and Rev. Bryan Torres officiating. Burial will follow at Good Faith Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to Open Door Baptist Church in Greensburg, PA, or Victory Baptist Church in Pine Bluff.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Winnifred Marie Baggett (Richardson), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

 

Memories of a proud American

My dad, Gene Franklin 

Proud to be an American 

He served his country in World Way II 

Photo at the Cowpens SC Veterans Memorial 

Park in 2010 

Documenting Keepsakes

 KEEPSAKES:  This book holder was hand carved in India, see picture below.  "Completely hand carved in India from one solid piece of Himalayan Jungle Sheesham wood..." 


This is one of the treasures Cindy received when her grandmother passed,  it held the family Bible for many years but we are not sure who gave this to Mam-Ma Baggett.

Note cards, prayer cards, priceless!

Mom found a stack of cards that my dad had saved , that he used back in the early years of ministry, early to mid - 1960's.  

There were about 100 cards and each card has a different name of a friend, family member, or church member or pastor friend that he prayed for.  

Each card has a number of marks representing each time he prayed for them.  

What a priceless memory!