Rev. Edgar Franklin

Services celebrating the life of the Rev. Edgar Franklin will be at 11 Saturday morn­ing, December 22, 2012, at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Lawton. The Rev. Dwight Franklin will officiate and the Rev. Dar­win McHenry will deliver the Eulogy. Secondary ser­vices will follow at 3 p.m. at Jehovah Baptist in Milo to allow loved ones of the Milo community to pay final tributes and respec ts before the United States Army performs Military Graverites in Jehovah Cemetery.

The Rev. Franklin was born December 11, 1921, in the Newport, Carter County, Community. He enlisted with the United States Army in Septem­ber 1942 and received an honorable discharge in September 1945. Serv­ing during WWII, he was stationed in Germany, France, England, Bel­gium, Holland and Swit­zerland. He worked as a diesel mechanic for the Army’s Civil Service until his retirement in 1980, for a total of more than 33 years with the U.S. Army. Additionally, he continued in the National Guard for eight years. In 1955, he united with Union Bap­tist Church and was later ordained as a deacon. He accepted the call into the ministry in 1963, and was ordained by Pastors Par­rish, Clay and O.B. Da­vis. His tenure as pastor began with Gilfield Bap­tist Church in Davis, and continued with St. John in Mangum, Macedonia in Ft. Cobb, Mt. Carmel, Wynnewood, Mt. Zion, Elmore City, Salem, Hen­nepin, St. Paul, Milo, and Woodstreet Baptist in Vernon, Texas. In 1989, he founded and orga­nized Mt. Pleasant Bap­tist Church in Lawton at 1514 Wisconsin. He later purchased 14 additional lots at 1410 Georgia and in 1995, Mt. Pleasant moved to the new location. Con­tinuing to move forward, another parcel of land was purchased and the church moved to the current lo­cation at 1403 Summit. For many years, the Rev. Franklin was treasurer of the New Hope District As­sociation.

October 24, 1945, af­ter completing his tour of duty, he and the former Lois Shannon were mar­ried. Eleven children were born to this union. She preceded him in death December 1980. After 91 years and 5 days on earth, the Rev. Franklin’s soul took flight from L awton’s Comanche Hospital at 11:45 p.m. Sunday, De­cember 16 with his chil­dren at his bedside.

Others than his wife to precede him in death were his mother, Evelida McGee; stepfather, Jesse McGee; two daughters, Ella Franklin and Lena Mae Franklin; and a son, Edgar Franklin Jr.

Precious memories will forever linger with his children and their spous­es, Garen and Authoree Franklin, Nolan and Patricia Franklin, Olan Franklin, Russel Franklin, Barbara White, Dwight Franklin, Diana and Quin­ton Pollard, Betty and Don Williams, Clifton Jackson, Alan Blaylock and Henry Stevenson; 34 grandchil­dren; 51 great-grandchil­dren; four great-great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; a sister-in­law, Finis Jones; and two brothers-in-law, Henry Shannon Jr. and Sammy Shannon.

Services are entrusted to the care of Kirk Funeral Home. Viewal will begin at noon today.