Roaring River Mr. William Ernest Franklin, age 70, of Byrd Road, passed away peacefully at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Mr. Franklin was born in Swaim County, Proctor, NC to Ernest and Hattie Wilson Franklin. He was a graduate of Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC with a Masters Degree of Arts in Education. While working on his Masters Degree he was able to get the Cherokee County Schools accredited. He taught for 20 years, most of them with the Cherokee County Board of Education where he retired in 1993 with heart failure. Mr. Franklin was a veteran of the US Army. Mr. Franklin was also an ordained minister. He served as Pastor for Topton Baptist Church where he was ordained, Little Glade Baptist Church, Upper Peachtree Baptist Church and Shady Grove Baptist Church. In Wilkes County, Union Baptist Church and Old Roaring River Baptist Church. He was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church where he remained faithful to his church family as long as his health permitted. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister Sandra Casey. Surviving are his wife, Virginia Couch Franklin of 45 years of the home; a son, James Franklin of the home; a brother, James Franklin and wife Sharon of Quincy, Fla.; two nephews, Dr. Joseph Franklin of East Carolina University, Michael Casey of Maiden NC; a niece Susanne Casey of N. Wilkesboro. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 30, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at Macedonia Baptist Church by Rev. Joel Blevins, Mr. Ernest Jones and Rev. Robby Miller. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Mr. Franklin will lie instate 30 minutes prior to the service. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin.
