Sidney C. Franklin

Visitation is 5:00-8:00pm Thursday, January 31, 2013 at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Funeral services are 2:00pm Friday, February 1, 2013 at Liberty Baptist Church in Flowood with interment in Floral Hills Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the church.

Rev. John Cofer and Chaplain Hoyt Ainsworth will officiate. Pallbearers are Leon Franklin, Ronny Thompson, Robby Thompson, Chad Carpenter, Kelly Carpenter and Ryan Taylor. Honorary pallbearers are Drew Saxon, Barry Wood and Philip Wood.

He was born August 11, 1931 in Rankin County, a son of the late Evan Franklin and Katie Fitzhugh Franklin. He was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Flowood and he loved to share his testimony. He was a retired truck driver, and served for many years with the Truck Stop Ministries program. A loving husband, father and grandfather, his favorite times were spent with his family and he was also an avid fox hunter.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Joan Carpenter Franklin; son, Mike Franklin and wife Tina; daughters, Gina Franklin and partner Lori Bieber, and Cynthia Taylor; brother, W.E. Franklin; sisters, Vera Bryant, S.A. Kimble, June Harrell and Merle Thompson; grandchildren, Kristan Ezell, Staci Gasaway, Ryan Taylor, Morgan Taylor, Carley Beth Taylor and Sydney Bieber; and great-grandchildren, Chloe, Van, Brennan, Sydni and Hanna.

As a chaplain for Truckstop Ministries, Inc., Mr. Franklin dearly loved this ministry. Memorials may be made by either clicking on the "Donate" button at www.truckstopministries.org or mail to: Truckstop Ministries, Inc., PO Box 80, Jackson, GA 30233.