James E. Franklin

James E. Franklin was born in Knoxville, Tennessee September 11, 1941. He entered into eternal rest on February 7, 2016 at Christina Hospital in Newark, Delaware.



After graduating high school he left Tennessee to pursuit bigger dreams and he landed in Connecticut where he took up playing bass guitar. He eventually landed in Brooklyn New York and became a very established guitar player. He then joined a band and they played in various places throughout the city. He often spoke about the band recording a song, and he was offered to play with James Brown band but decline the offer. He finally put his bass down and became a train conductor with the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority he would open and close the doors and announces the stations. He would eventually be promoted to track maintenance, and after 25 years he retired in 1995. He moved to Lumberton, North Carolina where he began a quiet life, and in 2008 he moved to New Castle Delaware where he called his home.



His memories will be cherished by a devoted daughter Aretha Franklin of New York and son Jermaine Franklin of Newark, Delaware, One grandson Denzel Washington of New York, One brother Charles Franklin of Portsmouth, Virginia, three sisters Betty Love of Fort Meyers, Florida, Marion Joyce Brown of Birmingham, Alabama and Mary Elizabeth Franklin of Las Vegas. He also leaves an extended host OF NIECES AND NEPHEWS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.