MOM

Essie Belle Franklin and Bessie Franklin (twins) were born in Ocoee, Polk County, Tennessee on February 9th, 1909 to Mary Ellen Buster-Franklin and George Raymond Franklin.

Essie Belle Franklin and Herbert Franklin Jenkins were married in Hamilton County, Tennessee on January 27th, 1926. Essie was 16 years of age - Herbie was 22.

Mom went to her Heavenly home on March 24th, 1992 at the age of 83 from cancer.

The most important thing about Mom is that she witnessed and told her children about her Savior, Jesus Christ. Not a day passed without mom talking about and trusting, Jesus. Out of the abundance of her heart - her mouth spoke - of Jesus. She knew that faith in Jesus is the only thing that is everlasting - ALL things of this world are temporary! Because of Jesus - we are guaranteed to have life everlasting in Paradise with our Jesus and our loved ones. TO LIVE IS CHRIST - TO DIE IS GAIN!

As a young child, instead of school - mom suffered through picking cotton in the hot fields of Tennessee until her fingers bled, as a young woman - she endured the death of her identical twin sister Bessie and her mother Mary Ellen. She experienced the great depression at the young age of 19 while raising two small babies. She would take in laundry, using a scrub board and ironing clothes to help feed her family. Mom had a stroke during the delivery of one of her first children - and, consequently was partially paralyzed on one side of her body. She did more with one hand than most women did with two. She continued on - refusing to give up - raising seven children and beginning her legacy. Her physician Dr. Yokus, in Trenton, Michigan, advised her to abort her last two children Sherry and Matthew due to the risks of her possibly having another stroke or even dying. Mom refused saying "those are my babies - if I die, then - I know where I'm going". She never complained about having the use of only one hand - nor the severe hardships associated with it. She was strong and quietly tough like that.

Mom was survived by all 7 of her children, Nina Margaret Reinhold, Frances Hurst, Bobby Gene Jenkins, Raymond Herbert Jenkins, Shirley Ann Qualls, Sherry Darlene Loniewski and Matthew Jenkins. Also surviving are 22 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren. She didn't die alone! As fate would have it, only one person was at her side at the time of her death at 4:37 a.m. Her youngest child Matthew was not only by her side but held her hand and prayed for her, as as she passed into eternity to be with, Jesus.

For many years Mom had requested that her Grandson Michael Hurst sing one of her favorite songs at her funeral - and he always promised that he would. When the time came, he strummed the tune gently on his guitar and sang the song flawlessly. After he finished he looked at his dear departed Grandmother in her coffin and said, "that was for you Momma". He then rushed away as he broke down in tears. The song was; "Peace in the Valley"!

As a final tribute to Mom, it was agreed that her eight eldest grandsons would tend her casket to the gravesite. The pallbearers were: Michael Lee Hurst, Kenneth Jenkins, Timothy Jenkins, Raymond Jenkins Jr, Robert Derek Qualls, James Michael Qualls, Rodney A. Qualls and Wesley James Jenkins. Her youngest and last Grandson Matthew Franklin Jenkins was only 3 years old at the time and too young to be a part of the ceremony.

Essie Belle Franklin-Jenkins was a kind, caring and faithful Christian woman. She is now enjoying her "peace in the valley" with Jesus, and her loved ones.

You are loved, and greatly missed, Mom!