Martha B. Franklin

Martha B. Franklin, 85, of Morganton, NC went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Born on November 29, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Dempsey and Ada Blankenship. Martha was a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved attending Nowlings Chapel and the church members there.

Martha is survived by her sons, Stephen Franklin (Martha) and Michael Franklin (Thelma); and daughters, Debra Lourcey (Jerry) and Karen Moody (Tom); grandchildren, Wendy Roper, Jonathan Franklin (Becky), Mandy Franklin (Juh), Jimmy Bumgarner, Maggie Schoenen; 11 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Pearl Smith, Mary Proffitt, Esther Osteen; brother, Paul Blankenship; half-brother, Alvin Blankenship.

In addition to her parents, Martha is preceded in death by her husband, Herbert “Whitey” Franklin; sister, Ethel Hensley; half-sisters, Lillian Johnson and Frankie Blankenship; grandchildren, Thomas Moody, III and Michael Franklin.

The family will receive friends from 5:30 until 7:30, Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at Sossoman Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at Nowlings Chapel Freewill Baptist Church with the Rev. Darvey Hensley officiating. Burial will follow at Faith Temple Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.