Suzane Franklin

Suzane Inez Franklin (she added the Inez herself) came into this world, on January 28th, 1939 in Delta Country, Texas and she departed this world December 30th from Tyler, Texas. Suzie was born as WWII was starting and much of her life was shaped by battles that made her stronger for her family and more faithful to her Savior. Finally, after a decades long battle with Parkinson’s disease, and a final fight with COVID-19, Suzie was promoted home to heaven and was greeted by her precious Lord and loving family who had finished their fights before her.

Suzie was born to Van George and Buna Simpson George and her life was shaped by them. Van was a East Texas Baptist preacher, never too long in one pastorate and Buna was the quiet, steady heart of the many homes they moved to. Suzie learned the love of God and church from her daddy and the love of family and Texas cooking from her mother. Around 14 she learned to play piano at the one of the old Stamps Baxter Music schools hosted in Dallas, Texas. For the rest of her life, she was the pianist in every church she was a member of and played in hundreds more where folks just wanted to hear her praise God through those old upright, out of tune pianos, that she made sound like concert Steinways. She was still playing at her church and nursing home. Even as Parkinson’s tried to silence her hands, she fought on and it never stopped her. The most requested hymn, for she only played hymns, was “Onward Christian Soldiers.” She made it her life’s anthem and her family sang it for her as she took flight to glory.

Suzie worked any job she had to, fighting for her family during the hard times. She walked door to door, asking business owner after owner for work, never considered giving up. More than once she had to rent houses that were ready to fall down, but she made them a home just as her mother had, to keep her family from falling apart. And at the times when the family did fall apart, as families often do, she gathered the broken pieces and put them back together through her love and faith. The job she was most proud of was her time as an administrative secretary for the chain of Dairy Queen restaurants around Lufkin, Texas. After that, Dairy Queen was forever her place for ice cream and a hot meal.

Suzie was preceded in death by her parents, Van and Buna George, by her first husband Sammy Minefee and her second husband Fred Franklin. She is survived by her siblings; Johnell George of Fort Worth, Tommy George of Rowlett, Lou Brewster of Irving and Larry George of Yuma, Arizona. Her children, who she fought the hardest for, Kris Minefee of Athens, Tx, Cory Minefee of Tucson, Arizona, Crystal Templin of Arlington, Texas, Shanna Hoskison of Ben Franklin, Tx and Vince Minefee, of Lufkin, Tx. Their spouses LeeOra, Diana, Gary, Terry and Pam. And don’t dare forget her 15 beloved grandchildren, whom she fought to spoil and her over 20 great-grandchildren which were the final rewards of her well lived life.

Graveside services will be 2:00 pm Thursday, Jan 7th, at Oaklawn Cemetery, Cooper Texas and a Life Celebration service will be hosted by Suzie’s last church family, Calvary Baptist Church, Athens, Texas on Friday Jan 29th at 10:30 AM. A meal will be provided by the church members, in honor of their sister Suzie.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Suzie Franklin Tribute page for Parkinson’s research https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/remembering-suzie-franklin

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