Vinnie Franklin

The eldest daughter of eleven children, Vinnie O’neal Franklin was born July 30, 1928 to Elmer Williams, Sr. and Dora B. Williams in Hale County Alabama.
On July 31, 1948, she married Noah D. Franklin, Sr. where nine beautiful children were born into this union. She confessed Christ at an early age and later joined the 28th Street Church of God where she would serve as the president of the Usher Board.
O’neal had many passions in life - family, friends, cooking, gardening, and sewing were amongst the top. Even though O’neal did not complete grade school she did work towards obtaining her GED and took up trades in carpentry and plumbing at Lawson State Community College.
Everyone in the neighborhood knew that if you wanted some sewing done, you go to O’neal. She was also the house to go to for the best and freshest baked goods, cakes and pies galore! She took care of those that she loved. Children always had a place in her heart. She would even stand outside when it would snow and put socks on the local kids hands to keep them warm on their way to and from school. If anyone needed food, a warm plate was always available.
As she retired from sewing she began sitting for her grandkids and great grandkids. She was still running around the weeping willow in her front yard with her great grands at 80. Her grands were her number one priority until her last days in this life as she called to speak to her youngest great granddaughter, 4 months old, the day before she came home from the hospital.
O’neal was preceded in death by: her parents, Elmer Williams , Sr and Dora B. Williams; the love of her life, her Husband, Noah D. Franklin, Sr.; two children, R.L. Franklin and Evelyn Franklin; and Siblings- Elmer Williams, Jr., Elivingston Willams, Ethagus Williams, Fred Williams, Mccan Williams, Mellow Tubbs, Evelyn Powell, and Willa Pearl Frieson. Son-in-law, Roddy T. Knight, I.
Cherishing the memories of her life is her sister, Geneva King, and brothers, Emmanuel Williams and Marcel Williams; her children Glorice Knight of Erie, Pennsylvania, Elnorah (Robert) Williams of Fairfield, Alabama, Mattie Cain of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Mary Franklin of Adamsville, Alabama, Kasandra Hearron of Rainbow City, Alabama, Lajuana (Christopher) Franklin Jones of Gadsden, Alabama, and Noah D. Franklin, Jr. of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Her Grandchildren – Roddy T. Knight II, Charissa Y. Cain, Robert L. Williams, Jr., Brian M. Knight, David S. Williams, Willie C. Cain, Jr., Lorri M. Manning, Andria N. Jones, ERica O. Franklin, and Marquel Hillard. Great Grandchildren- Larissa N. Cain, Nya P. Cain, Mariah M. Manning, Mario O. Manning, Rachel Powell, Marisol Cain, Maximilliano Cain, Quinn Knight, Sierra Green, Nova Rose Hillard, Lola Franklin. A host of other relatives and dear friends.
Goodbye is not forever when you have lived your life for others and you have loved without condition, when you have met each task with diligence and earned the honors of man, when you have made so many laugh and your smile wont be forgotten, when you have left behind an empty place that no one else can dill, when the friendships that you have shared long to be renewed, when you build your life on hope and fulfilled it everyday, the footprints that you left behind will bring us face-to-face.
On May 24, 2021, O’neal went home to be with the Lord. She is gone, but always loved, never forgotten.