Celebrating our 49th wedding anniversary on June 4th

 O HAPPY DAY !   June 4 1977 , Cindy and I were married in the Philips Chapel at Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN . Pictured with Carole Granderson (Junior Bridesmaid) and  Tony Mitchell (Junior Groomsman)   Dr J R Faulkner officiated our ceremony.  49 years and counting!  

Welcome to ELKHORN - INSP TV SERIES

 

If you are a history buff, you will enjoy this INSP series about Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt.  Other than the typical "western" violence and lawlessness, ELKHORN  is one series most of the family will enjoy.  The first season only is available to watch on AMAZON PRIME , but you can watch Season 1 and Season 2 for free on TUBI (with ads).  The series takes place just after both his first wife and his mother die on the same day, and he decides go out west, and to the Badlands in North Dakota  to  "find himself". 

He decides to buy a ranch and try his hand at raising cattle in the 1880's.  Roosevelt was  24 in 1883 when he first visited the Badlands, and established his ranch (Elkhorn Ranch) when he was 26 in 1884.  You will find yourself on Google reading up on the history of this President of the United States,  and the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota; and how this experience led him to establish and protect 230 million acres as national parks.  

Theodore Roosevelt served as President of the United States from September 14, 1901, to March 4, 1909. He assumed office following the assassination of President William McKinley and went on to win a full term in the 1904 presidential election.  

Spring Photos of our family - such a blessing!

It is so nice to have Spring photos of our three son's families.   We are  so thankful for God's blessing to us.  Photos from April (Stephen and family) and from May (Joshua and Brandon's family) 

2026 is turning out to be a very special year for my wife and I!  

 

Potter's General Store is now reimagined in Cowpens, SC

 

This is great news for my hometown.  Instead of tearing down Potter's Store, a fixture of my childhood. Yes, the pot belly stove keeping everyone warm, while old men are sitting in rocking chairs and playing checkers, and barrels of candy !  Renovated now as Potter's Loft.  

all about Cowpens SC - memories of a simpler life

My home town of Cowpens, SC in 1952 and 1953 -

 pictured just before I was born in 1955 at Dr. Crow's Clinic.

Things seemed so much simpler then, but life was not a bed of roses. We did not have a telephone until the early 1960's.  Mom used a wringer washer outside to wash our clothes (I was one of many kids who had their arm get stuck in the wringer trying to help I am sure) There was no air conditioner, but lots of fans, one for each room it seemed.  

When I was born , we lived in a house below the railroad crossing , then later moved to an apartment near Gospel Baptist Church (my Dad's first pastorate).  By the mid 1960's we had moved to a house which we called the Coyle's House. Mr. Don Edward Coyle used to run a grocery store (Coyle's Supermarket)  where the ice cream shop is today. This house was located on the street behind where Hardee's is today. Of course, there was no Hardee's back then, and we had to drive to Spartanburg to enjoy those .15 cent burgers!). 

 

"Hymn to the Fallen "

 

Family Photo Sunday

 Our son and his wife, Stephen and Leah , two proud and happy parents as their oldest child, Natalie, graduated from college on May 8th (from BJU in Greenville SC)  

Natalie graduates from BJU on May 8th 2026!

 A big day in the Franklin family calls for a lot of photos (Scroll down to see all photos)  - our oldest grandchild graduated from Bob Jones University on Friday afternoon May 8, 2026.  Her degree was  in  Kinesiology and she already has a job with University of Madison Hospital system near her home in WI.  

We are so proud of her achieving her goals and four year degree.

NATALIE WITH HAPPY GRANDPARENTS 

NATALIE WITH MEREDITH 

OUR TWO BJU STUDENTS, NATALIE & BRIELLE

NATALIE WITH BFF EMMA 

ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY , STEPHEN AND LEAH 

JOSH AND JANELLE & FAMILY WITH NATALIE 

THAT CAP JUST DID NOT COOPERATE! LOL

NATALIE AND PROUD PARENTS-STEPHEN & LEAH