The Shadow
BURNSVILE – John Carl “Black Bear” Franklin, 70, of 6638 Dry Run Road, Burnsville, died Monday, April 12, 2010 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke.
He was born September 18, 1939 in Bath County, the son of Mary Reynolds Franklin and the late Roy Franklin. He was married to his wife of 45 years, Genevia Franklin.
Mr. Franklin was a Concrete Crew Supervisor for Hammond & Mitchell, Inc. in Covington. He attended Burnsville United Methodist Church; was a founding member of Virginia Houndsmen & Sporting Dog Association; and enjoyed hound hunting of all kinds.
He is survived by his mother, Mary Reynolds Franklin of Hot Springs, Virginia; his wife, Genevia Franklinof Hot Springs; his daughter, Tammie Darline Franklin Byer and husband Chris of Falling Spring; a brother, Lewis Carson Franklin of Staunton; two sisters, Phyllis June Ferrell of Falling Spring, Barbara Lewellen of Southern Pines, N.C.; two granddaughters, Ashley and Olivia Byer of Falling Spring; special friends, G. Payne Fisher of Staunton, Hunter and Dottie Thrasher and son, Andrew Gilliam of Buchanan, Steven Nelson of Burnsville, Moe Hise of Hot Springs and Larry “Fuzzy” Burke of Goshen; and numerous houndsmen hunting buddies.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a brother, Roy Franklin Jr., and a nephew, “Tinker” Ferrell.
A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at McLaughlin & Young Funeral Home in Hot Springs with the Rev. Byong Ahn and the Rev. Debbie Carey officiating. Interment will be in Burnsville Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Allen Price, Billy Jefferson Jr., Darrel Roberts, Fred Lewellen, Jason Burke, Jay Kellison, Jessie Lambert, Kenny Roberts, Lewis “Bo” Franklin, Jay Thrasher and Larry Peters.
The family will receive friends from 7 until 8:30 p.m. Thursday evening at McLaughlin & Young Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the Springs Nursing Center.
