Ola Mae Franklin

Ola Mae (White) Franklin, 89, of Roswell, Georgia and Stuart, Florida and formally of Cromwell, Ridgefield and Stamford, Connecticut passed away peacefully at home on April 26, 2013 with her family by her side. Mae was born on the White family farm in Monroe, Tennessee to Ermine and Vella White in 1923. She attended local schools and went to high school at Livingston Academy. During World War II, she worked in Detroit for the war effort. After the war, she went on to earn a degree in Home Economics from Tennessee Technological University. She was the first in her family to earn a college degree. Mae was proud to be a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a direct descendant of General John Sevier, the first governor of Tennessee, and his wife, Bonny Kate. After college, she moved to Madisonville to work as the County Home Agent. There she met the love of her life, Bruce Franklin, when he was home on leave from the Navy. In 1951, Mae and Bruce married and started their life together in San Diego. They spent their honeymoon in Honolulu, Hawaii where Bruce was stationed for three months and returned with their family for their 50th wedding anniversary. In addition to raising their three children, Mae managed ten moves from California, to Texas, back to California, back to Texas, to West Virginia, to Connecticut, to Indiana, back to Connecticut, to Florida and finally to Georgia. She was active in Presbyterian Women organizations in all of these states and in 1982 was President of the Presbyterian Women of New England. At the time of her death, she was a member of Northminster Presbyterian Church in Roswell, Georgia. She also worked as a high school home economics teacher and a tutor for at risk students. She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed cooking fabulous meals, planning wonderful family vacations and spending quality time with her children and grandchildren. She was the matriarch of the family and a friend to many. She will be deeply missed by all who loved her. In addition to her husband, Bruce, Mae is survived by her three children, Bruce Franklin, Jr. and his wife Sharon of Rochester, MN, Catherine Intravia and her husband Jim of South Windsor, CT, and Jeanne Patterson and her husband Bob of Roswell, GA; her grandchildren, Alissa Movern and her husband Matt, John Frankin, Lauren Intravia, Jessica Intravia, Chris Patterson, Michael Patterson, and Leah Patterson as well as her dearly loved brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and her many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her brothers, Carson, Eugene and Kuell, and her sister Wilma. The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to her nurse Latrice Johnson. A Memorial Service will be held at Madisonville Presbyterian Church, Madisonville, Tennessee on May 4, 2013 at 2:30 PM with her brother-in-law, Reverend McCoy Franklin officiating. The Madisonville church was the church of the Reverend’s father and Mae’s father-in-law, Reverend C. McCoy Franklin, until his death. Burial will follow at Haven Hills Cemetery which is located on land that was a portion of the Franklin family farm in Madisonville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Daughters of the American Revolution in her memory (www.dar.org/giving_site/give_now). Northside Chapel Funeral Directors and Crematory, Roswell, 770-645-1414. www.northsidechapel.com

Ola Mae Franklin

May 2, 1923 - April 26, 2013