Wanda C. Franklin was born June 29, 1943 and departed on August 10, 2020. She was born in Summit, New Jersey to the late Norman Paul Franklin and Marion Elizabeth Gardiner Franklin of Springfield, New Jersey. She grew up with her six sisters in her beloved community of Vauxhall.
Wanda was educated in the Union School System. Following high school, Wanda served our country honorably in the Army. After which, she took up residence in San Francisco for several years and then finally settled in Washington DC. This is where she called home for over 50 years. While in DC, she landed a successful job at the Department of Interior until she retired.
She loved her childhood residence of Vauxhall. Even though she permanently moved away after high school, she often came “HOME” and visited her dear family and friends, favorite stores and greasy food “joints”. She was very loyal and committed to her roots.
Wanda was very stylish and had a good sense of value. She loved a good "bargain” as she would travel to “find a good buy”. She made dozens of special trips “HOME” to shop at Englishtown, NJ or Daffy Dan’s in Elizabeth, NJ with her sisters. Wanda, also affectionately called “INKY”, was the “cool” Aunt who was always open to new ideas from the young ones. In 1989 she met the man of her dreams, cool Howard Cue Coley, and they were later married. Wanda and Howard were inseparable and he lovingly referred to her as WaWa.
Wanda lived life to the fullest and she always encouraged others to follow their dreams. She was a dedicated member of her local church where she served on the Missionary Board. She was most grateful and loved the Lord. She can be best described as very compassionate, extremely generous, and simply wonderful!
Your Spirit, your Heart, and Memories of you will continue to live in each of us.
Wanda was predeceased by her sisters, Joyce Davis-Roberts, Marilyn E. Hayes, Norma C. Haymon and Sherryl L. Thompson. She leaves to cherish her loving memory: devoted husband, Howard Cue Coley; two step-sons Gregory Sykes (Tasha) of Washington, DC and Terrance Coley of Maryland, and step-daughter Terri Johnson of Maryland, two sisters, Sandra Robinson of Vauxhall, NJ and Valerie Hayes (Edward) of Greensboro, NC; and a host of nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.
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