Myrna G. Franklin

Wherever Myrna was, it was home. Whether you showed up for a planned visit or spontaneously and unannounced, she always had a delicious meal prepared that was typically accompanied by a sweet treat for dessert. Of course, she accomplished many other things, but her capacity to make you feel safe, welcomed, valued, heard, loved and at home was her greatest gift.

Myrna’s life began on April 7, 1937, when she was born at Fordham Road Hospital in the Bronx, New York to Leonard Thomas and Elodie Henrietta (DeLille) Gaines. Her parents quickly came to realize that Myrna was indeed very special. As the family grew, from an early age Myrna exhibited a rare sense of responsibility that went beyond her role as an older sister. Whether it was managing household chores or comforting her younger sisters during times of uncertainty, she approached every task with a quiet determination and shouldered her duties with maturity exceeding her youth. Myrna was steadfast, dependable and capable. Despite the weight of her responsibilities, Myrna was a nurturing presence for her sisters, Delores (Stripling), Sefronia (Greene), and Josephine (Joseph) as she helped to maintain the household. She was a source of comfort and guidance, and her family relied on her strength and good judgement. The bonds she forged with her siblings have endured throughout their lives. The stability and support she provided during ordinary days and challenging times formed her deep sense of responsibility and compassion, qualities that shaped her relationships and influenced her interactions with others for years to come.

A creative and intelligent young woman, Myrna graduated from Joseph S. Clark Senior High School in 1954. She went on to pursue cosmetology training at Marjorie Stewart’s Beauty Shop where she honed her skills, obtained her license and held appointments with clients. Her attention to detail and personalized service-both hallmarks of her personality- helped her build a loyal clientele. Thereafter Myrna was self-employed until she joined the Cute Togs Baby Clothes Factory in New Orleans where she specialized in decorating baby jumpers with intricate embroidery stitching, her craftsmanship bringing a touch of elegance to the delicate garments and transforming simple baby clothes into cherished keepsakes. After a considerable tenure at Cute Togs, she joined the workforce at American Beauty where she stayed for eight years before accepting a job with the federal government at the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service. Working in the Sensory Lab, Myrna played a crucial role in conducting research on off-flavors in foods, including staples such as catfish, beef and cantaloupe, a vital aspect of ensuring food quality and consumer satisfaction. She retired in 2006 after 20 years of service. Throughout her professional journey, Myrna's ability to adapt and excel in diverse fields reflected her versatility and determination as well as her passion and commitment, attributes that defined her character.

Though Myrna enjoyed an accomplished and long-standing career, she remained profoundly committed to family—her nuclear and extended families, and the family she built. It was at a dance hosted by Joseph S. Clark Senior High School at the local YMCA that she met her husband, William James Franklin, III. Following a two-year courtship, they exchanged vows on November 30, 1957, embarking on a journey together filled with shared dreams. Their union was blessed with the arrival of their son, William James Franklin, IV (Billy), the following year in November,1958. Sadly, after 16 years of marriage, William her beloved husband passed away suddenly from a cardiac arrest. Finding herself a widow at 35, Myrna and Billy had to navigate life's challenges together. Despite the life-altering loss, Myrna's unwavering strength and deep bond with her son allowed them to face the future with resilience and courage. As Myrna continued to cherish her extended family and friends, she found joy in creating lasting memories and celebrating milestones together. Her home was always open, filled with warmth and hospitality, welcoming loved ones with open arms. Myrna's commitment to family, both nuclear and extended, underscored the values she held dear throughout her life—love and compassion without judgement especially for those she held closest to her heart.

Through the decades Myrna’s and Billy’s relationship has represented shared respect, trust, consideration, and unconditional love. Once Billy married his soul mate, Virginia “Cookie”(Sanford), Myrna gained a daughter, who embraced the entire family. The care the three of them have provided for each other typifies true love and mutual understanding. It's not in the grand gestures, but instead in the quiet moments that they have been able to anticipate each other's needs, sense one another’s unspoken worries, and offer untiring support and firm belief in each other’s abilities. During the peaks and the valleys, they have stood united, leaning on faith and prayer.

Without doubt, one of Myrna’s happiest days was October 4,1994, the day Billy and Virginia were blessed with a daughter, Myrna’s granddaughter, Jadon. Myrna’s heart was hardly big enough to accommodate the love she had sharing in Jadon’s childhood and formative years. These two were twin souls who enriched one another’s lives beyond compare: laughing together, sharing stories and adventures, with Myrna imparting wisdom gleaned from decades of experience, and Jadon offering a fresh perspective that kept Myrna young at heart. The influence each has had on the other is readily apparent and encompasses everything that is special between a grandparent and a grandchild. Their connection has transcended age and time. The collective enthusiasm for the life they shared is representative of what family should be.

God gives each of us special talents and gifts. Myrna’s was cultivating those around her. Those who preceded her in death, her father, Leonard T. Gaines, her mother, Elodie H. Gaines, her husband, William the III, Grandmother Mamie DeLille, five aunts: Vera Morgan Eula McMillion, Bernadine, Pearl, and Amelia DeLille, one uncle: Benjamin DeLille, and her faithful canine companion, Satin Doll. She leaves behind her beloved son, William the IV, her faithful daughter-in-law, Virginia, her cherished granddaughter, Jadon and her precious grand pup, Otis Ermias; her three treasured sisters, one aunt: Delores Henderson, and a legion of nieces, nephews (by blood and those who chose her) and life-long friends. She took the time to have a special relationship with each one. As a result of the sacrifices, she made caring for her parents in her home for nearly 20 years, and those willingly made for her sisters, they all had a better life as have the generations that have followed. Also true was her ability to build unique relationships with each person she encountered in the world around her. She was and will always remain in our hearts and memories as the embodiment of all that is good on this Earth. There are not enough words in any language that can capture and adequately convey who she has been for so many during her earthly journey. Myrna embraced every role that she was given and lived a life in service first and foremost as a faithful servant of God, but also as wife, mother, grandmother, granddaughter, daughter, sister, niece, aunt, friend, and confidante. She was Auntie Myrna to her family, but she was also Auntie Myrna to the world.

The laws of physics dictate that energy is neither created nor destroyed. And that may be Myrna’s true legacy – – the energy that she poured into everyone she knew and everything she pursued. It is energy that will never dissipate because it is a part of each soul she touched, fostered and nurtured. Her memory and legacy live in all who knew her and loved her. Whether it was a garment she sewed for someone or a cake she baked, a story she shared or even a simple smile and kind word, she has left a piece of herself in each of us. The world will not be the same without her physically here, but we all know she made it a better place with each day she lived and with each breath she took. She is our example of a modern-day saint.

We all know Auntie Myrna was a true New Orleanian through and through—red beans and rice on Monday, Saints football on Sunday! She resided there from age nine until 2005 when Hurricane Katrina occurred. She moved with her immediate family to Lewisville, TX and then Grand Prairie in July 2006. She has called Grand Prairie home for just shy of nearly 20 years. As is commonplace for

Auntie Myrna, her time in Grand Prairie has been marked by citizenship in the surrounding communities as an active member of her church home, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, and with The Texas Rangers Woman’s Club.