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.

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