Dr. John Henry Franklin

Dr. John Henry Franklin, age 85, left this earth and entered his eternal home in Heaven on Tuesday March 21st. Known to many as Brother John, he pastored several Southern Baptist churches for 56 years in Mississippi, Texas & Tennessee. After retiring he was also employed at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home & Blount Discount Pharmacy. 

In his own words: “The direction of my life has largely been determined by the decisions that I made before I was 20 years old. When I was still in elementary school at West Side, I made the most important decision I will ever make when I trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior. Choosing HIM changed the whole direction of my life. At the age of 17, I made the second most important decision I will ever make when I asked Betty Delaney to be my wife. My third most important decision was to accept God’s call to the Gospel Ministry. Having completed my high school by correspondence from the American School in Chicago, IL, I graduated from Florida Bible College, Mississippi College with a BA, and from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters and a Doctors degree. (All with three children). The Lord has brought this high school dropout a long way.”

John is a member and former pastor of Everett Hills Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents Cleophas L. & Anna B. Franklin, brothers Cleophas L Franklin, Jr. & Sam Wesley Franklin, sisters Mary Farmer and Pauline Buchanan. He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years Betty Delaney Franklin, sons John V (Melanie) Franklin & Daniel C (Renee) Franklin, daughter Tammy J (David) Kidd, 4 grandchildren and spouses, and 9 great-grandchildren, sister Barbara Jenkins, and many beloved nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. The family will receive friends from Noon to 2:00 pm on Saturday March 25th at Everett Hills Baptist Church, 401 S. Everett High Rd in Maryville, TN with a Celebration of Life service to follow with Pastor Doug Hayes officiating. Family and friends will assemble at 3:00 pm Saturday for interment at Grandview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations for Bibles may be made to The Gideons International Processing Center, P. O. Box 97251, Washington, DC 20090-7251 or online at www.gideons.org/donate.