Saturday, June 15, 2024

Been thinking about my Dad this Father's Day week



Been thinking about my dad this week as Father's Day approaches.  He loved family time together ( picture at left from 1978 with my first son, Joshua, a four generation photo) 
and He loved to sing,  pictured below with my dad and cousin Jim , singing at Christmas Eve in the 1980's (at Grandma's house of course) 
- what precious memories! 

 

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Missing my mom on Mother's Day


 This year will be a  year of first.  Sunday May 12th was the first Mother's day without mom.  She is enjoying Heaven this year. 

Yes, that's me,  pictured with mom in 1956!

Saturday, March 16, 2024

My home town, lots of memories there!


Love the new sign in my hometown of Cowpens, SC 

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Just a little snow ... 2016 in Cowpens SC

 


This is one of my favorite photos of Cowpens, SC 

 Just a little snow storm back in 2016. 

 I think we are due for another one , what do you think?  

Saturday, December 09, 2023

Martin's Cowpens Drug Store in 1971


My home town had two drug stores and two doctors on Main Street when I was in high school.  Martin's Drug Store (with Dr. Teal)  and Stone's Drug Store (with Dr. Crow).  Who did you go see ?   Now there are none , kind of sad.   

Monday, December 04, 2023

Cowpens downtown 1952


 Cowpens was once a bustling little town...postcard photo from 1952

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Memories of Christmas (parades) long, long ago...

 

Back in 1972 the Spartanburg Christmas Parade was always on the Friday morning after Thanksgiving.

I was "drum major" for the Cowpens High  School Band when we marched in the parade for the first time in many years.  

 Roger Cox was our new band director  and he continued as the director for many years including at the new Broome High School. 

 Loretta, my sister, is playing the bell lyra, but sadly I cannot remember the names of all of these great people!   

Friday, November 24, 2023

Thankful for my home church


Thankful for the church that my dad "planted" in 1965 
Cowpens Calvary Baptist Church
Photo from local newspaper from the 2nd year anniversary
Now with their 3rd pastor, Jeff Jones, the church is still preaching the Word of God!

Sunday, July 09, 2023

Cowpens and the aftermath of the tornado on May 18, 1969

 

This photo was posted by someone on facebook recently and really brought back vivid memories.  On May 18, 1969 we lived one block south of the grocery store, Cut Rate Grocery, which was leveled when the twister touchdown briefly. This was rebuilt on the same corner of Main Street (now a church building) and across from the gas station(recently a BBQ restaurant) 

 The post office and First Baptist Church, just a half block away, were not damaged.   We could hear the loud sound of wind (like a train) and I crawled under a bed in the middle  of the house, but our house was spared.  Several houses below us ,  towards the railroad tracks, had large oak trees toppled as the tornado passed over.  Needless to say , this was a very scary event and hopefully I will never be this close to a tornado again.

Monday, July 03, 2023

Dad was one of the "greatest generation"


 Dad was one of the “greatest generation” he served in WWII - my sister decorated his grave for the 4th - he would be happy! 

Sunday, June 25, 2023

remembering those already in Heaven



 Cindy and I took my mother to visit the grave of her son and my brother, Stephen Anthony. He lived only a few hours after birth on October 26,  1956.   He is buried beside our Grandpa and Grandma Franklin at Thompson Chapel Cemetery.   Sadly , he would have been 67 this October.  

Monday, June 19, 2023

Converse Mill Lofts opening soon

The old Converse mill in the photo on the left - brings back many memories.  My mother worked there for several years when I was a little kid.  And the two lane highway to Spartanburg was a bear! We only went 3-4 times a year to shop for Christmas, Easter, back to school clothes, etc. but if you were behind one of those old Ford T Models or trucks  , it would take forever to get there. 

Below is a picture of the remodeling at the mill. So glad they did not tear the building down. It is being converted into loft apartments now. 

Nice photo of the beautiful new windows , probably custom made. The website below gives more information for these apartments. 

 

Monday, May 29, 2023

Important dates in Franklin family history



My dad's Certificate of Ordination dated February 26, 1961 
It appears this was ceremony was done 
when he became pastor at Gospel Baptist Church 

Ordaining councel included:  

Rev Robert A Brooks

Rev John R Waters

Rev Claude Campbell

Rev Paul A Stephens

and a couple more that we cannot read... 
 

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Those were the good old days

My dad is standing on the left in this photo from around 1942.
He would have been 16 years old.  His brother Lawrence is standing at back, 
and his brother Howard at the right.  




 

Saturday, April 15, 2023

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.