Marion Franklin

Marian Ann Williams-Franklin was born on September 20, 1942 to George Lewis Williams and Nannie Lee Williams in Nashville, Tennessee.
She became a follower of Christ in her early teens while attending a local Methodist church.

She attended Napier Elementary School and graduated from Cameron High School. She was also a life member of the Cameron High School Alumni Association. During her time in high school, she sang with the A Capella Choir, mixed chorus, was a member of the Players Guild and Co-Ed Council.

She eventually attended Tennessee State University where she met and later married Harry Gump Franklin in 1965.
She and Harry had two children, Kelli, born in Nashville, TN and Troy, born in Wayne, MI. In Michigan, the family initially lived in the city of Inkster, but moved to Detroit in 1974.

She was a loving and engaged Mom who led both Kelli’s girl scout troop and Troy’s cub scout den. She attended all their activities and often volunteered at their schools and accompanied her children on field trips. All the school administrators loved Marian and many of them became life-long friends.
Marian Ann, along with her family was very active as members of Calvin Presbyterian Church, assisting with many activities, including the annual BBQ, children’s programs, The Haunted Village and special dinners and programs.

Following the closing of Calvin, Marian and Harry became members of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Detroit. She was actively involved in the church and tirelessly prepared delicious meals and generously served in a multitude of ways including as a Deacon, Red Hat Club and 50 and Up member.

She was a member of a ladies’ bowling league that met weekly. She certainly represented her team well and made many friends while participating in the league. She was also a member of the Southfield Silhouettes Auxiliary (wives and widows of members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity) and a longtime member of the TSUNAA Chapter - Detroit.
She was a doting mother and grandmother who spoiled her children and grandchildren with attention and special gifts. She also developed a very close, loving relationship with Keith Joyner, Kelli’s husband and her son-in-law. They spoke almost daily on the phone.

She was always focused on giving to others and checked in regularly with neighbors and friends to offer kind words, a smile and a hot delicious meal.
She had a servant’s heart and always put others before herself. With her humor and infectious laugh, she made life, holidays, birthdays, family gatherings and other special occasions extra special and loved to entertain with family and friends. Her delicious cooking was how she showed others how much she loved them.

She was preceded in death by her son, Troy A. Franklin, father, George Lewis Williams, mother, Nannie Lee Williams and sister Roslyn Lee McKay of Nashville, TN. She is survived by her husband, Harry G. Franklin of Detroit, MI, her daughter, Kelli Franklin-Joyner (Keith), grandchildren, Austin Joyner and Brooke Joyner of Alpharetta, GA and siblings Mary Cecile Williams, George R. Williams (Gail), Beverly Jean Smith (Thomas), Joyce Marie Helms (Bruce), Brenda Lorraine McKay (niece), as well as a host of other nieces and nephews of Nashville, TN.