Jimmie Edsel Franklin

Jimmie Edsel Franklin, 78 years old, passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.

Jimmie grew up in the Glade Hill area of Franklin County, but in 1967 joined the United States Army and was deployed to Vietnam where he served proudly as Private First Class, with the 155 Transportation Unit as a Specialist at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam until 1968. Not only was he a proud Army Veteran, he returned to Franklin County and began his life as a Craftsman, Entrepreneur, Tobacco Farmer, Truck Driver, and Father, but most importantly a Friend to many over his lifetime.

Jimmie was known for dropping just about anything he was doing to help a friend or to play a good prank on one of them. As a young man, he enjoyed his love for cars, especially NASCAR racing and talking about the good ole days of speeding down country roads when it was “safe to still do back then,” according to him. If you knew him as a young man before Fort Bragg (basic training) and Vietnam, you knew he was wild and had sort of a renegade spirit about him. His cars had to be pristine and clean to show off to the ladies!

He was also a man of his own belief. He could be opinionated at times, but who isn’t!? He always tried to make good on his promises and expected equal treatment. Without ever realizing it, he was probably the most compassionate person you could ever meet. If you ran into Jimmie, he would likely be wearing his Cundiff Trucking hat and usually only proudly wore his Vietnam hat when he dressed up to go out in public. Occasionally you might see him at Lowe’s, Carl’s, 611, Cracker Barrel or several other places. Wherever he was, he didn’t meet a stranger and liked to talk, a lot! Other Veterans were his jam, and he never missed anopportunity to thank one of them and always got a gleam on his face and tear in his eye when someone did the same for him!

He did his best sometimes and sometimes, not so much. That’s how life goes! In the end, he led with a good heart, good intentions and never stopped loving all the people who truly believed that about him. “Forgive and forget,” he would always say even if he couldn’t always let something go. Just ask anyone who truly knew him. “That was just Jimmie”.

Jimmie is preceded in death by his parents Artemas Mattox Franklin and Laura Elizabeth Saunders Franklin, a brother-in-law Bobby Cundiff and a nephew Todd Housman.

He is survived by his three children, son Aubrey L. Franklin of Roanoke, daughter, Katina Clements (Eddie) of Rocky Mount, and daughter Jessica Lambert (Jeremy) of Rocky Mount. Five grandchildren Toni Ratcliffe (Max) of Boones Mill, Kalee Clements of Rocky Mount, Sadie Lambert, Sydney Lambert and Seth Lambert, all in Rocky Mount. Two great grandchildren, Braxton Ratcliffe and Macklyn Ratcliffe of Boones Mill. Three sisters, Gloria Housman (Bill) of Rocky Mount, Brenda Cundiff of Wirtz and Joyce Jones (James) of Rocky Mount. One niece, Beverly Cundiff of Rocky Mount, and two nephews Anthony Chitwood (Sissy) of Florida and Wendell Housman of Rocky Mount.

The family would also like to express their gratitude to their numerous friends, neighbors, co-workers and extended families throughout their lifetime (too many to list). Most importantly, they would like to extend gratitude to some very special friends that he thought of strongly. Channing and Valerie Lynch, Willard “Pee Wee” and Polly McBride, Henry and Faye LaPrade, Johnnie and Wendy Smith, and of course, John “Bud” Thomas (In Heaven) and Widow, Rhonda Thomas.

The family request that in lieu of flowers and food, donations be made to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans – online at www.dav.org or to the local chapter at 130 Scruggs Rd. #210, Scruggs, VA 24121) in his honor. He was not disabled, but he could care less as long it went to a good cause for American Veterans. He would appreciate that very much.

A simple private Celebration of Life ceremony and gathering are currently being coordinated to honor him.

Rest easy and in peace “Walter”. You will live on in the legacies you left behind. Arrangements by Flora Funeral Service and Cremation Center, Rocky Mount.