William Eugene “Gene” FRANKLIN, Jr.

1944 - 2008  (64 years)

• Name	William Eugene “Gene” FRANKLIN  [1, 2, 3, 4]
  Suffix	Jr.
  Birth	2 Jun 1944	Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina
  Gender	Male
  HIST	at death- he had 10 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson- also- a cousin, Roy Dennis- (how is he the cousin of Gene)? - and a great-nephew- James Reese Jr. (he is the son of Bill Reese- his nephew)? Date Published: November 13, 2008 WILLIAM E. FRANKLIN The Rev. William Eugene “Gene” Franklin Jr., 64, beloved husband of 42 years to Christine “Tina” Rogers Colquitt Franklin, died on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008, at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital. He was born in Columbia, a son of the late William Eugene Franklin Sr. and Grace Hinnant Franklin. Franklin was the pastor of both The High Hills of Santee Baptist Church and The Calvary Baptist Church of Pinewood. He was a man of many names: Chaplain, Major, Preacher, Pastor, Brother Gene, Daddy, Poppie, Bell-ringer and friend. He was a hunter and fisherman who loved God’s outdoors. He was an electrician, plumber, and carpenter, who built his own house and worked on his own vehicles. He served individuals and friends all over Sumter County and served the community as a fire fighter, an EMT, a Red Cross trainer and was a member of the Sumter County Disaster Response Team. Some difficult experiences he had as a firefighter led him to become one of the first Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Counselors in Sumter County. Gene’s love of God flowed over into everything he did. He was a humble man, but to everyone who knew him he was a hero. Surviving in addition to his wife are: one son, William “Trey” Eugene Franklin III and his wife Kimberly of Columbia; two daughters, Christine Courson and her husband Keith of Sumter and Patricia Johns and her husband Ed of Dalzell; one sister, Milbra Reese and her husband Robert W. of Columbia; and 10 grandchildren, Joy Courson, Ethan Courson, Emily Courson, Jonathan Courson, Holden Courson, Jabin Courson, Grace Franklin, Evie Franklin, Calvert Johns and Kevin Johns. He was preceded in death by: his parents, one cousin, Roy Dennis; one nephew, Bill Reese and one great-nephew, James Reese Jr. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, at Grace Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy K. Holley officiating. Burial will follow in the High Hills of Santee Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: members of the South Carolina Fire Service Honor Guard. Honorary Pallbearers will be the firefighters of Station “8”, firefighters of the City of Sumter and Sumter County firefighters. The family will receive friends on 5 to 8 p.m. today at Bullock Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to The High Hills of Santee Baptist Church Memorial Association, 3800 Settlement Road, Dalzell, SC 29040, The S.C. State Firefighters Memorial Fund, 111 Westpark Boulevard, Columbia, SC 29210 or to The American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210. Online memorial messages may be made to the family at www.bullockfuneralhome.com Date Published: November 13, 2008 Chaplain 'a well-loved man' Keith Gedamke / The Item William "Gene" Franklin's firefighter's gear as he left it at the firestation. Chief Karl Ford (audio) 3:43 min Assist. Chief Doug Mathis (audio) 3:48 min Firefighter Randy Jones (audio) 2:03 min Battalion Chief Bud Ivey (audio) 2:46 min Capt. Brian Horton (audio) 1:23 min Lt. Kaye Rogers (audio) 0:57 min By JOE PERRY Item Staff Writer jperry@theitem.com The Sumter Fire Department is reeling from the loss of a beloved chaplain who was killed Tuesday afternoon in Dalzell when the motorcycle he was riding was struck by a car on Black River Road. The Rev. William Eugene "Gene" Franklin, 64, died about 3:35 p.m. Tuesday after being air-lifted to Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia, said Sumter County Coroner Verna Moore on Wednesday. She said Franklin died from trauma to the head. South Carolina Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Trevor Clinton said Franklin was traveling south on a 1999 Honda motorcycle on Black River Road when he was hit by a northbound 1995 Lincoln Town Car driven by Henry C. Edens Jr., 84, of 3905 Black River Road. SCHP Lance Cpl. Josef Robinson said Franklin was wearing a helmet. Edens is being charged with failure to yield of right way, Clinton said. On Tuesday, Franklin was making rounds and visiting people on the fire department's prayer list, said Sumter Fire Department Chief Karl Ford. Item file photo Sumter Fire Chaplain William "Gene" Franklin, second from right, leads a group of firefighters in a prayer in June 2007. Franklin was killed in a motorcycle wreck Tuesday afternoon. "It's a big loss for us," he said, noting that Franklin had over 30 years of service with the fire department and once held the rank of major, but wanted to spend more time with his family and his church community. Franklin pastored at High Hills of Santee Baptist Church for 42 years, said his wife Christine "Tina" Franklin, which was where he was ordained. They were married in December 1966. "A well loved man," she said, echoing the sentiment of many in the community. "Many, many, many, many, lives he touched that we didn't know about and we're just finding out." She said her husband served as chaplain at Wateree River Correctional Institution for 25 years, and pastored at Calvary Baptist Church as well. He leaves behind two daughters — Chris Courson, 40, and Patti Johns, 36, and a son, William "Trey" E. Franklin III, 33, as well as 10 grandchildren and one great-grandson. "He had a servant's heart," Tina Franklin said. "He was truly a servant at heart." Ford said that Franklin served as the unofficial chaplain throughout his career, often consoling and ministering to firefighters and families affected by traumatic situations. "We lost the person we turn to in times of tragedy," he said. "He's gone." Ford said fire departments throughout the state have responded to Franklin's death, and Columbia firefighters are set to standby on Friday so Sumter firefighters can attend services, which are scheduled for 2 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church. "We're getting calls from all over the state," he said of the outpouring of support. "He was very well known in the fire service and well known in the church community." Sumter County Courthouse Bailiff Susan Bagwell said her husband David served with Franklin at the fire department and they've known Franklin for about 10 years. She said he was "a very giving and Christian man," and "one of the finest men to walk the earth." "Truly yesterday everyone lost an awesome friend," she said Wednesday. "But it was Heaven's gain." Ford said what Franklin truly enjoyed doing was "taking care of people." "He's always been our chaplain for a long time — he's always taken care of that role," he said. "But more than that, he was my friend." Fire Department Capt. Joey Duggan, who has known and served with Franklin for nearly 20 years, praised his friend's character. "Gene was a man who not only stood for pride, honor and integrity, he walked it, he talked it and lived by it," he said. "He was the kind of man that most men would strive to be." Contact Staff Writer Joe Perry at jperry@theitem.com or (803) 774-1272. Date Published: November 14, 2008 A City Mourns Family, friends honor the Rev. William “Gene” Franklin Keith Gedamke / The Item Sumter Fire Chaplain Franklin's funeral (video) By ANNABELLE ROBERTSON Item Staff Writer arobertson@theitem.com Sumter firefighters were in mourning early Friday, as they prepared to bury one of their own. The Rev. William Eugene “Gene” Franklin died Tuesday after a motorist struck his motorcycle. The 64-year-old department chaplain was airlifted to Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia but was soon pronounced dead, due to severe head trauma. The atmosphere at the Sumter firehouse was somber Friday morning, as firefighters made final preparations for the funeral. “What's so hard is that he took care of us,” said Assistant Chief R.D. “Doug” Mathis, choking back a tear. “And now, when we need him most, he's not here.” Franklin was transported on the bed of a draped, antique firetruck which he helped purchase for the fire department about 20 years ago. Like the six county trucks and three city trucks that will accompany the chaplain to the graveside, the truck had been washed and waxed. It sat silent, waiting to carry out its somber task. Annabelle Robertson / The Item The Rev. Gene Franklin, chaplain for the Sumter Fire Department, was instrumental in getting this antique fire truck. His body was carried to the cemetery in the truck. Funeral services were held Friday at Grace Baptist Church and included a presentation of three separate honor guards, a bagpiper balmoral and several eulogies. Chief John Bowers of the S.C. State Firefighters Association presented the Final Alarm Medal and Membership Pin to the family, followed by the honorary firefighter's helmet by Fire Chief Karl Ford. The service concluded with a ringing of the bells, the retrieval of the colors by another honor guard and a recessional of dignitaries and honorary pallbearers. After the funeral, a processional of city and county vehicles made its way to the graveside at the High Hills Baptist Church in the High Hills of the Santee area. The route and side streets were blocked along the way. Firefighters from Richland County, in the spirit of camaraderie inherent in firefighters, staffed the local fire departments so that the 99 city firefighters and 240 county volunteer firefighters could pay their final respects to Franklin. “We always talk about the brotherhood of firefighters,” Mathis said. “Well, this is a good example.” Contact Staff Writer Annabelle Robertson at arobertson@theitem.com or (803) 774-1250.  [1, 2, 3]
  HIST	at death- he had 10 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson- also- a cousin, Roy Dennis- (how is he the cousin of Gene)? - and a great-nephew- James Reese Jr. (he is the son of Bill Reese- his nephew)? Date Published: November 13, 2008 WILLIAM E. FRANKLIN The Rev. William Eugene “Gene” Franklin Jr., 64, beloved husband of 42 years to Christine “Tina” Rogers Colquitt Franklin, died on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008, at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital. He was born in Columbia, a son of the late William Eugene Franklin Sr. and Grace Hinnant Franklin. Franklin was the pastor of both The High Hills of Santee Baptist Church and The Calvary Baptist Church of Pinewood. He was a man of many names: Chaplain, Major, Preacher, Pastor, Brother Gene, Daddy, Poppie, Bell-ringer and friend. He was a hunter and fisherman who loved God’s outdoors. He was an electrician, plumber, and carpenter, who built his own house and worked on his own vehicles. He served individuals and friends all over Sumter County and served the community as a fire fighter, an EMT, a Red Cross trainer and was a member of the Sumter County Disaster Response Team. Some difficult experiences he had as a firefighter led him to become one of the first Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Counselors in Sumter County. Gene’s love of God flowed over into everything he did. He was a humble man, but to everyone who knew him he was a hero. Surviving in addition to his wife are: one son, William “Trey” Eugene Franklin III and his wife Kimberly of Columbia; two daughters, Christine Courson and her husband Keith of Sumter and Patricia Johns and her husband Ed of Dalzell; one sister, Milbra Reese and her husband Robert W. of Columbia; and 10 grandchildren, Joy Courson, Ethan Courson, Emily Courson, Jonathan Courson, Holden Courson, Jabin Courson, Grace Franklin, Evie Franklin, Calvert Johns and Kevin Johns. He was preceded in death by: his parents, one cousin, Roy Dennis; one nephew, Bill Reese and one great-nephew, James Reese Jr. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, at Grace Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy K. Holley officiating. Burial will follow in the High Hills of Santee Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: members of the South Carolina Fire Service Honor Guard. Honorary Pallbearers will be the firefighters of Station “8”, firefighters of the City of Sumter and Sumter County firefighters. The family will receive friends on 5 to 8 p.m. today at Bullock Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to The High Hills of Santee Baptist Church Memorial Association, 3800 Settlement Road, Dalzell, SC 29040, The S.C. State Firefighters Memorial Fund, 111 Westpark Boulevard, Columbia, SC 29210 or to The American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210. Online memorial messages may be made to the family at www.bullockfuneralhome.com Date Published: November 13, 2008 Chaplain 'a well-loved man' Keith Gedamke / The Item William "Gene" Franklin's firefighter's gear as he left it at the firestation. Chief Karl Ford (audio) 3:43 min Assist. Chief Doug Mathis (audio) 3:48 min Firefighter Randy Jones (audio) 2:03 min Battalion Chief Bud Ivey (audio) 2:46 min Capt. Brian Horton (audio) 1:23 min Lt. Kaye Rogers (audio) 0:57 min By JOE PERRY Item Staff Writer jperry@theitem.com The Sumter Fire Department is reeling from the loss of a beloved chaplain who was killed Tuesday afternoon in Dalzell when the motorcycle he was riding was struck by a car on Black River Road. The Rev. William Eugene "Gene" Franklin, 64, died about 3:35 p.m. Tuesday after being air-lifted to Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia, said Sumter County Coroner Verna Moore on Wednesday. She said Franklin died from trauma to the head. South Carolina Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Trevor Clinton said Franklin was traveling south on a 1999 Honda motorcycle on Black River Road when he was hit by a northbound 1995 Lincoln Town Car driven by Henry C. Edens Jr., 84, of 3905 Black River Road. SCHP Lance Cpl. Josef Robinson said Franklin was wearing a helmet. Edens is being charged with failure to yield of right way, Clinton said. On Tuesday, Franklin was making rounds and visiting people on the fire department's prayer list, said Sumter Fire Department Chief Karl Ford. Item file photo Sumter Fire Chaplain William "Gene" Franklin, second from right, leads a group of firefighters in a prayer in June 2007. Franklin was killed in a motorcycle wreck Tuesday afternoon. "It's a big loss for us," he said, noting that Franklin had over 30 years of service with the fire department and once held the rank of major, but wanted to spend more time with his family and his church community. Franklin pastored at High Hills of Santee Baptist Church for 42 years, said his wife Christine "Tina" Franklin, which was where he was ordained. They were married in December 1966. "A well loved man," she said, echoing the sentiment of many in the community. "Many, many, many, many, lives he touched that we didn't know about and we're just finding out." She said her husband served as chaplain at Wateree River Correctional Institution for 25 years, and pastored at Calvary Baptist Church as well. He leaves behind two daughters — Chris Courson, 40, and Patti Johns, 36, and a son, William "Trey" E. Franklin III, 33, as well as 10 grandchildren and one great-grandson. "He had a servant's heart," Tina Franklin said. "He was truly a servant at heart." Ford said that Franklin served as the unofficial chaplain throughout his career, often consoling and ministering to firefighters and families affected by traumatic situations. "We lost the person we turn to in times of tragedy," he said. "He's gone." Ford said fire departments throughout the state have responded to Franklin's death, and Columbia firefighters are set to standby on Friday so Sumter firefighters can attend services, which are scheduled for 2 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church. "We're getting calls from all over the state," he said of the outpouring of support. "He was very well known in the fire service and well known in the church community." Sumter County Courthouse Bailiff Susan Bagwell said her husband David served with Franklin at the fire department and they've known Franklin for about 10 years. She said he was "a very giving and Christian man," and "one of the finest men to walk the earth." "Truly yesterday everyone lost an awesome friend," she said Wednesday. "But it was Heaven's gain." Ford said what Franklin truly enjoyed doing was "taking care of people." "He's always been our chaplain for a long time — he's always taken care of that role," he said. "But more than that, he was my friend." Fire Department Capt. Joey Duggan, who has known and served with Franklin for nearly 20 years, praised his friend's character. "Gene was a man who not only stood for pride, honor and integrity, he walked it, he talked it and lived by it," he said. "He was the kind of man that most men would strive to be." Contact Staff Writer Joe Perry at jperry@theitem.com or (803) 774-1272. Date Published: November 14, 2008 A City Mourns Family, friends honor the Rev. William “Gene” Franklin Keith Gedamke / The Item Sumter Fire Chaplain Franklin's funeral (video) By ANNABELLE ROBERTSON Item Staff Writer arobertson@theitem.com Sumter firefighters were in mourning early Friday, as they prepared to bury one of their own. The Rev. William Eugene “Gene” Franklin died Tuesday after a motorist struck his motorcycle. The 64-year-old department chaplain was airlifted to Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia but was soon pronounced dead, due to severe head trauma. The atmosphere at the Sumter firehouse was somber Friday morning, as firefighters made final preparations for the funeral. “What's so hard is that he took care of us,” said Assistant Chief R.D. “Doug” Mathis, choking back a tear. “And now, when we need him most, he's not here.” Franklin was transported on the bed of a draped, antique firetruck which he helped purchase for the fire department about 20 years ago. Like the six county trucks and three city trucks that will accompany the chaplain to the graveside, the truck had been washed and waxed. It sat silent, waiting to carry out its somber task. Annabelle Robertson / The Item The Rev. Gene Franklin, chaplain for the Sumter Fire Department, was instrumental in getting this antique fire truck. His body was carried to the cemetery in the truck. Funeral services were held Friday at Grace Baptist Church and included a presentation of three separate honor guards, a bagpiper balmoral and several eulogies. Chief John Bowers of the S.C. State Firefighters Association presented the Final Alarm Medal and Membership Pin to the family, followed by the honorary firefighter's helmet by Fire Chief Karl Ford. The service concluded with a ringing of the bells, the retrieval of the colors by another honor guard and a recessional of dignitaries and honorary pallbearers. After the funeral, a processional of city and county vehicles made its way to the graveside at the High Hills Baptist Church in the High Hills of the Santee area. The route and side streets were blocked along the way. Firefighters from Richland County, in the spirit of camaraderie inherent in firefighters, staffed the local fire departments so that the 99 city firefighters and 240 county volunteer firefighters could pay their final respects to Franklin. “We always talk about the brotherhood of firefighters,” Mathis said. “Well, this is a good example.” Contact Staff Writer Annabelle Robertson at arobertson@theitem.com or (803) 774-1250.
  Occupation	he was the pastor of both The High Hills of Santee Baptist Church (Sumter County) and The Calvary Baptist Church of Pinewood, (Pinewood) South Carolina  [1]
  Occupation	he was the pastor of both The High Hills of Santee Baptist Church (Sumter County) and The Calvary Baptist Church of Pinewood, (Pinewood) South Carolina  [1]
  _UID	9251F1BD1AFC4FE69429357E765EE9B6BFCB
  _UID	9251F1BD1AFC4FE69429357E765EE9B6BFCB
  Death	11 Nov 2008	Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina
  Burial	14 Nov 2008	High Hills of Santee Baptist Church Cemetery, Sumter County, South Carolina   [1]
  	Bullock Funeral Home, Sumter, South Carolina Bullock Funeral Home, Sumter, South Carolina
  Person ID	I231240	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	22 Jun 2015

  
  

  Father	William Eugene FRANKLIN, Sr.   d. Bef 11 Nov 2008
  Mother	Grace HINNANT   d. Bef 11 Nov 2008
  _UID	DAF6C5C2878E4ECB8B088793C2729AEDED5F
  _UID	DAF6C5C2878E4ECB8B088793C2729AEDED5F
  Family ID	F156228	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Christine “Tina” ROGERS
  Marriage	Dec 1966  [1, 2]
  _UID	77FB5D555B37429CB0E2A7385836E8EB66AA
  _UID	77FB5D555B37429CB0E2A7385836E8EB66AA
  Children	1. Living   2. Living   3. Living
  Family ID	F156227	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	13 Nov 2008

  
  

• Sources

  [S11250] William E. Franklin. [S11251] Chaplain ‘a well-loved man’. [S11278] A city mourns - Family, friends honor the Rev. William “Gene” Franklin. [S22663] Courson-Lamoreux.