Mr. Joe Louis Franklin

FRANKLIN, Mr. Joe Louis - Age 89, passed away Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Haven of Rest, Owosso, MI. Family hour 10:00 AM Saturday, May 31, 2025, at House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church, 1851 W. Carpenter Rd., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM. Interment Evergreen Cemetery, G-3415 E. Hill Rd., Grand Blanc, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 10:00 AM Saturday. Mr. Franklin will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., from 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Friday, May 30, 2025. Joe Louis Franklin, a great servant leader, was born on October 9, 1935 in Ladd, Arkansas. He was the sixth of eleven children born to James and Gertha (Hawkins) Franklin. His parents named him after the great American boxing champion Joe Louis. Joe was raised on the family farm where he learned the value of hard work and cooperation. Joe’s formal education began at the rural Poynter Elementary School. He was an outstanding student and excelled in sports. When he reached high school, football emerged as his favorite sport. A highlight of his career at Merrill High School was leading them to the Negro State Championship in 1956. He was awarded a scholarship to Arkansas AM&N. After a year in college, he decided to pursue the “Warmth of Other Suns.” He migrated to Flint, Michigan in 1957 to work for the General Motors Corporation. Once his status was stabilized, he sent for his high school sweetheart, Lorine Harmon. The two were married on January 20, 1958. They raised a family of four outstanding Beecher Buccaneers: Richard (Ricky), Michael, Kenneth and Renee Harmon. After a few years as a production worker at GM, Joe was elevated to the plant security division. He served with distinction until his retirement in 1992. He then became the Security Director for the Beecher Community School District. His presence was welcomed by students, staff and the community. If you wanted a soliloquy, Joe was not your guy. Like his namesake Joe Louis, he was a man of few words. However, when he spoke it was usually profound and powerful. Despite his stern appearance, he had a unique sense of humor and enjoyed a good laugh. Joe was a pillar of leadership in the Beecher Men’s Club and Ladies’ Auxiliary. He demonstrated his commitment to young people through his actions not just his words. He spent over forty years as a little league coach and referee. During his tenure, Joe L. guided the Zink Mustangs to numerous basketball and football championships. The Zink vs. Dailey rivalry was mythological. His former players compared him to Mike Tomlin, Bill Belichick and Tom Izzo. Three of the most successful athletes from his program who went on to professional sports were Stefon Jones, Roy Marble, and Courtney Hawkins. Franklin served as a trustee of the Beecher Board of Education for twenty years. He led the district through difficult times emerging with balanced budgets and increased academic achievement. Every board member respected him for his integrity and openness. He received numerous awards and accolades that covered the walls of his home. His contributions to the community will be remembered by the Joe L. Franklin sidewalk and the Joe L. Franklin Education & Technology Center. His leadership in the Kennedy Estates Block Club led to the acquisition of subdivision entrance markers. His mantra was “Our job is to ensure that every student has an opportunity for the best educational experience possible.” After fifty years, Joe and Lorine left the Beecher community and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and resided there for eight years. They returned to the Flint area in 2022. Thursday, May 15, 2025 Joe Louis Franklin made his transition. This left a void in the pantheon of Beecher Community leaders. Whether you knew him as Mr. Franklin, Joe, Dad, Granddad, the Godfather or the Ayatollah, his positive impact cannot be overstated. He was a friend, mentor and a role model for the entire community. Joe L. Franklin was preceded in death by his parents James and Gertha Franklin; siblings: Benjamin, Matthew, Wiley, Myrtle, Ezell, Cornelius, Robert Lee and Eddie. His loving wife Lorine joined him in the after life on May 22, 2025. Joe Louis Franklin is survived by his sisters: Ruby Jean (Burton, MI), Jannie Mae Washington (Oak Park, MI); sons: “Ricky” (Janice) (Lake Spivey, GA), Michael (Charlotte, NC), Kenneth (Trina) (Farmington Hills, MI), daughter: Renee (Stuttgart, AR); his grandchildren: DeAndre (Newberry, FL), Rikketta (Edgemoor, SC), Jovan (Burton, MI), Kenneth Jr. (Farmington Hills, MI) and great-grandson Elijah (Newberry, FL) along with a host of friends and relatives. Services can be lived stream at: https://www.youtube.com/live/eEbkHzrO6Nk?si=03h-P1foWN_lK9Yp

Mr. Joe Louis Franklin

October 9, 1935 - May 15, 2025