Cw4 (Ret.) James "Jim" Franklin

CW4 (Ret.) James “Jim” Franklin, age 90, of Enterprise, AL, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones, Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at Flowers Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M., Friday, May 26, 2023 at Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory Chapel with his son, LTC (Ret.) Tony Franklin and son-in-law, Doug Echols officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Meadowlawn Cemetery with Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday beginning at 12:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to S.O.S. Animal Shelter, 25944 AL 134, Enterprise, AL 36330. Friends and family members are requested to honor Mr. Franklin by wearing patriotic colors. Mr. Franklin was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and was a faithful friend to many. He spent his early years learning the meaning of “hard work” as a dairy farmer in southern Georgia beginning at the young age of five-years-old. After marrying the love of his life, Joyce Franklin, he made the decision to join the Army. After three years training at Camp Rucker and four years defending the Panama Canal Zone, he spent two tours in Vietnam as an Army Aviator. Jim returned to his family in 1970 and began flying for General Burdett as his personal pilot and friend. After retiring from the Army, he worked for PHI and then as an Instructor Pilot training Fort Rucker’s future Aviation Warriors. Jim Franklin completely retired from his years of service and spent his days playing golf, cooking, and fishing. Days before celebrating his 67th wedding anniversary, Joyce Franklin suddenly passed away. Mr. Franklin spent even more time with his family in the five following years telling his incredible war stories, taking care of his animals, and exploring lakes, mountains, the beach, and Washington, D.C. James Franklin had a full 90 years of excitement, strife, and joy and continually stated how he was prepared and ready to see his love again and go home. He now lives reunited with his wife, family, and friends worshipping our Lord and Savior eternally without pain or sorrow, and we know that we will see him again. To all of us, he will forever be “Above the Best…of All the Rest!” Mr. Franklin is preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Joyce Franklin, and sister, Edna Cullens. Survivors include his two daughters, Shelia Hurley (Ray), Grantville, GA; Celia Echols (Doug), Enterprise, AL; two sons, LTC (Ret.) Tony Franklin (Susan), Enterprise, AL; Stuart Franklin, Dothan, AL; daughter-in-law, Jannie Franklin, Dothan, AL; sister, Pearl Tanner, Wrightsville, GA; eleven grandchildren, Tiffany Swaney, Jessica Hurley, Kate Franklin, Hannah Echols, Faith Echols, Natalie Echols, Brian Franklin, Rick Franklin, Kevin Franklin, James Franklin, and James Douglas Echols; eight great-grandchildren, Kevin, Ray, Bella, Kaylee, Kendall, Tripp, Ryan and Aurora. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Cw4 (Ret.) James "Jim" Franklin, please visit our flower store.