William “Butch” Alexander Franklin, Jr., M.D., 76, transitioned at home on February 27, 2021. He was born on December 22, 1944, in Richmond, Virginia, the eldest of two sons born to Dr. William A. Franklin, Sr. and Isadora Morton Franklin. Both his parents and his brother, Julian (Buster) Morton Franklin, preceded him in death.
He received his primary education in West Point, Virginia and his secondary education in Newport News, Virginia. As a result of segregation and unequal funding for black schools, his family left West Point to pursue a better education for him. He completed his secondary education at George Washington Carver High School in Newport News, VA.
Butch received a football scholarship to Michigan State University in 1963; his desire to come back home took control and he transferred to and graduated from Hampton University (Institute), Hampton, VA in 1967, with dual Bachelor of Science Degrees in Chemistry and Math. He earned his Doctor of Medicine Degree from Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN in 1972, his father’s alma mater. Before graduating from Meharry, he took a year off to earn a degree in Mortuary Science in 1968 in Ohio. However, the practice of medicine has long been a family tradition so he couldn’t stay away; his grandfather and father both leading the way.
In 1972, Butch started his internship and was Chief Resident at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) now Norfolk Sentara. His best friend of over 46 years, Dr. Melvin Green, joined him there in 1973, which began their long-lasting personal and professional relationship. Dr. Franklin operated his own Internal Medicine private practice for 45 years in Hampton and Newport News. He was on staff for 35 years and served as Chief of Staff for Hampton General Hospital. He loved practicing medicine and he loved his patients even more. His tough love approach to medicine, while also joking with them, is what many of his patients will remember him for.
Butch had an extremely rich, full life filled with many storytelling life events. He loved to create those stories and then hold you captive by sharing them. Butch had two major social passions, Gambling & Golf, and they were not mutually exclusive. His entertaining storytelling involved many of those two activities.
In 1971, he married Patsy Jo Dobbins of Houston, TX. She preceded him in death in November 1985. Their union gave them Barrett Jason Franklin (Tiffany Andrews) and grandsons, Alexander Julian and Patrick Joseph; son, Brian Patrick Franklin (Candi Culbreth) and grandsons, Blake Alexander and Brycen Patrick; grandson, Brandon Ikaika Alexander Noa and great-grandson, Kayden Ikaika Alexander Noa. In 1988, Butch married Adrienne Lee Brandon and their union gave them Beau Alexander Franklin and Brandon Adrian Franklin. Butch enjoyed the love of his two marriages, four sons, five grandsons and one great grandson along with numerous family members and friends.
He is now at peace.
Arrangements by Weymouth Funeral Home.
He received his primary education in West Point, Virginia and his secondary education in Newport News, Virginia. As a result of segregation and unequal funding for black schools, his family left West Point to pursue a better education for him. He completed his secondary education at George Washington Carver High School in Newport News, VA.
Butch received a football scholarship to Michigan State University in 1963; his desire to come back home took control and he transferred to and graduated from Hampton University (Institute), Hampton, VA in 1967, with dual Bachelor of Science Degrees in Chemistry and Math. He earned his Doctor of Medicine Degree from Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN in 1972, his father’s alma mater. Before graduating from Meharry, he took a year off to earn a degree in Mortuary Science in 1968 in Ohio. However, the practice of medicine has long been a family tradition so he couldn’t stay away; his grandfather and father both leading the way.
In 1972, Butch started his internship and was Chief Resident at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) now Norfolk Sentara. His best friend of over 46 years, Dr. Melvin Green, joined him there in 1973, which began their long-lasting personal and professional relationship. Dr. Franklin operated his own Internal Medicine private practice for 45 years in Hampton and Newport News. He was on staff for 35 years and served as Chief of Staff for Hampton General Hospital. He loved practicing medicine and he loved his patients even more. His tough love approach to medicine, while also joking with them, is what many of his patients will remember him for.
Butch had an extremely rich, full life filled with many storytelling life events. He loved to create those stories and then hold you captive by sharing them. Butch had two major social passions, Gambling & Golf, and they were not mutually exclusive. His entertaining storytelling involved many of those two activities.
In 1971, he married Patsy Jo Dobbins of Houston, TX. She preceded him in death in November 1985. Their union gave them Barrett Jason Franklin (Tiffany Andrews) and grandsons, Alexander Julian and Patrick Joseph; son, Brian Patrick Franklin (Candi Culbreth) and grandsons, Blake Alexander and Brycen Patrick; grandson, Brandon Ikaika Alexander Noa and great-grandson, Kayden Ikaika Alexander Noa. In 1988, Butch married Adrienne Lee Brandon and their union gave them Beau Alexander Franklin and Brandon Adrian Franklin. Butch enjoyed the love of his two marriages, four sons, five grandsons and one great grandson along with numerous family members and friends.
He is now at peace.
Arrangements by Weymouth Funeral Home.
William “Butch” Alexander Franklin, Jr., M.D., 76, transitioned at home on February 27, 2021. He was born on December 22, 1944, in Richmond, Virginia, the eldest of two sons born to Dr. William A. Franklin, Sr. and Isadora Morton Franklin. Both his parents and his brother, Julian (Buster) Morton Franklin, preceded him in death.
He received his primary education in West Point, Virginia and his secondary education in Newport News, Virginia. As a result of segregation and unequal funding for black schools, his family left West Point to pursue a better education for him. He completed his secondary education at George Washington Carver High School in Newport News, VA.
Butch received a football scholarship to Michigan State University in 1963; his desire to come back home took control and he transferred to and graduated from Hampton University (Institute), Hampton, VA in 1967, with dual Bachelor of Science Degrees in Chemistry and Math. He earned his Doctor of Medicine Degree from Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN in 1972, his father’s alma mater. Before graduating from Meharry, he took a year off to earn a degree in Mortuary Science in 1968 in Ohio. However, the practice of medicine has long been a family tradition so he couldn’t stay away; his grandfather and father both leading the way.
In 1972, Butch started his internship and was Chief Resident at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) now Norfolk Sentara. His best friend of over 46 years, Dr. Melvin Green, joined him there in 1973, which began their long-lasting personal and professional relationship. Dr. Franklin operated his own Internal Medicine private practice for 45 years in Hampton and Newport News. He was on staff for 35 years and served as Chief of Staff for Hampton General Hospital. He loved practicing medicine and he loved his patients even more. His tough love approach to medicine, while also joking with them, is what many of his patients will remember him for.
Butch had an extremely rich, full life filled with many storytelling life events. He loved to create those stories and then hold you captive by sharing them. Butch had two major social passions, Gambling & Golf, and they were not mutually exclusive. His entertaining storytelling involved many of those two activities.
In 1971, he married Patsy Jo Dobbins of Houston, TX. She preceded him in death in November 1985. Their union gave them Barrett Jason Franklin (Tiffany Andrews) and grandsons, Alexander Julian and Patrick Joseph; son, Brian Patrick Franklin (Candi Culbreth) and grandsons, Blake Alexander and Brycen Patrick; grandson, Brandon Ikaika Alexander Noa and great-grandson, Kayden Ikaika Alexander Noa. In 1988, Butch married Adrienne Lee Brandon and their union gave them Beau Alexander Franklin and Brandon Adrian Franklin. Butch enjoyed the love of his two marriages, four sons, five grandsons and one great grandson along with numerous family members and friends.
He is now at peace.
Arrangements by Weymouth Funeral Home.
He received his primary education in West Point, Virginia and his secondary education in Newport News, Virginia. As a result of segregation and unequal funding for black schools, his family left West Point to pursue a better education for him. He completed his secondary education at George Washington Carver High School in Newport News, VA.
Butch received a football scholarship to Michigan State University in 1963; his desire to come back home took control and he transferred to and graduated from Hampton University (Institute), Hampton, VA in 1967, with dual Bachelor of Science Degrees in Chemistry and Math. He earned his Doctor of Medicine Degree from Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN in 1972, his father’s alma mater. Before graduating from Meharry, he took a year off to earn a degree in Mortuary Science in 1968 in Ohio. However, the practice of medicine has long been a family tradition so he couldn’t stay away; his grandfather and father both leading the way.
In 1972, Butch started his internship and was Chief Resident at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) now Norfolk Sentara. His best friend of over 46 years, Dr. Melvin Green, joined him there in 1973, which began their long-lasting personal and professional relationship. Dr. Franklin operated his own Internal Medicine private practice for 45 years in Hampton and Newport News. He was on staff for 35 years and served as Chief of Staff for Hampton General Hospital. He loved practicing medicine and he loved his patients even more. His tough love approach to medicine, while also joking with them, is what many of his patients will remember him for.
Butch had an extremely rich, full life filled with many storytelling life events. He loved to create those stories and then hold you captive by sharing them. Butch had two major social passions, Gambling & Golf, and they were not mutually exclusive. His entertaining storytelling involved many of those two activities.
In 1971, he married Patsy Jo Dobbins of Houston, TX. She preceded him in death in November 1985. Their union gave them Barrett Jason Franklin (Tiffany Andrews) and grandsons, Alexander Julian and Patrick Joseph; son, Brian Patrick Franklin (Candi Culbreth) and grandsons, Blake Alexander and Brycen Patrick; grandson, Brandon Ikaika Alexander Noa and great-grandson, Kayden Ikaika Alexander Noa. In 1988, Butch married Adrienne Lee Brandon and their union gave them Beau Alexander Franklin and Brandon Adrian Franklin. Butch enjoyed the love of his two marriages, four sons, five grandsons and one great grandson along with numerous family members and friends.
He is now at peace.
Arrangements by Weymouth Funeral Home.
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