Bettie Jo Jones Franklin

Remembering Bettie Jo Jones Franklin

   Mrs. Bettie Jo Franklin passed away Monday April 24, 2023, due to complications resulting from a fall during the Christmas holidays.
Our mother was very convinced that the end of her time on this earth was here, and she was ready to meet her Lord and Savior, passing from this life to her eternal heaven. 
As a devout Christian, she is now walking with her Lord with no pain or suffering enjoying time with many of her lost friends and reuniting with her beloved family that has passed before her. 

She is preceded in death by beloved family, Fred “Dink” Jones, Josephine Jones Bennett, Fred Jones Jr., and the love of her life George B. Franklin Jr.

She is succeeded by her 3 sons, George “Bibb” Franklin lll and wife Shawn; Fred Scott Franklin and wife Linda; Roy Gill Franklin and wife Carole (all of Rayville); four grandchildren Fred “Scott” Franklin Jr. and wife Courtney; Colton Gill Franklin and wife Daphne; Caroline Elizabeth Franklin and fiancé Sam Spires; Joanna Franklin Weed and husband Tyler; four great grandchildren Fred Scott Franklin lll, Arlynn Elaine Franklin, Autumn Belle Franklin and George Glenn Franklin, along with Godson Lester Wayne Johnson.

Mrs. Bettie Jo was born May 12,1932 in her hometown of Rayville Louisiana. She was the only child of Josephine Jones Bennett and Fred “Dink” Jones. Her Dad had been a widower with an 8-year-old son before marrying her mother in 1932, giving her an older brother Fred Jr. She had a wonderful childhood with her family running Rayville Food Store. She graduated Rayville High School with honors in 1950, and continued her education at Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana.  During her first year in college, tragedy struck, and she lost her Dad due to a heart attack. He was her biggest fan and she loved him dearly. It was a difficult time in her life to continue her education with a single mother at home. Her mother was very headstrong and determined for her to continue college while she ran the store on her own. After Bettie Jo’s college graduation in Education, she became a teacher at Delhi High School and was married one year later to the love of her life George B. Franklin Jr. in 1954. He had also lost his Dad the year before. 

Mrs. Bettie Jo and Mr. George were married on November 14th, 1954, at First Baptist Church in Rayville, where she was raised and spent much of her childhood along with her mother and father.
They soon became devout members of the Rayville Methodist Church where she raised their 3 sons.
She was a Sunday school teacher, Cub Scout den mother, a board member, Communion director, and every Sunday made a beautiful flower arrangement in the Narthex. They lived and raised their children in Bee Bayou until 1970 then moved to his family’s home in Rayville. She devoted many years to making her home a beautiful attraction for our town with her God-given abilities and talent. Her yard was kept pristine with gorgeous flowers and decorations for every season. She served as President of the Palmetto Garden Club and helped with or gave most social events in town. She won Yard of the Month numerous times in her life, in fact, the sign sits in her yard today. She is also known for her world-famous lemon cake with lemon sauce. She has baked thousands of these over the years for just about everyone in town. They were given for celebrations, accomplishments, friendships, sickness, or death. This cake was cooked so frequently that her three boys weren’t sure if she knew how to cook any other dessert!  We also thought if our Dad had dropped off 15 workers to help her, she would have kept them all busy for an eternity. She would never run out of something for them to do! 

Every holiday she wanted her family to be at her home to celebrate and always prepared wonderful meals. Christmas holidays were remarkable with all her preparations and gifts. On Halloween, just about every child in town came to receive candy at her Haunted Mansion! She created a spectacular production for the entire community with spooky decorations, lights, and eerie music. She enjoyed being able to see all the children, and putting a big smile on their face even though she was dressed as a witch! She would even have to shop early and from several different places to be able to have enough candy to ensure no child went without! 

She was a dedicated wife for 51 years, daughter, mother, and loving grandmother. In addition, she was a second mother to several others in town. Some of these children over the years even moved in her home for a period of time as she impacted their lives. In the last several months, they have come to visit, called, or sent letters of encouragement. She was Betsy, Mother, Godmother, Aunt Bettie Jo, and Gran. She will always be loved and greatly missed by everyone in her family, extended family, and this community. Her accomplishments, teachings, recipes, and memories will be passed down through her family for generations to come. 

Pallbearers are Dr. Lester Wayne Johnson, Gary Freeland, Lyle Russell, Jay Morris, Walter Hillman, and Curtis Hilbun

Honorary Pallbearers Jimmy Toney, Donald Cumpton, Jerry Hollis and Tom Baker. 

Special friends Nellie Ann Cotton, Cedrick Lawson, Linda Bell, Betty Sue Landrum, Billy Jo Boughton, Tana Trichel, Paula Hough, Frances Coenen, Becky Norsworthy, Elizabeth Oswalt, Reatagae Wooden, and Curtis Hilbun 

Caregivers: Nellie Cotton, Cedrick Lawson, Patsy Self, Vera Ausberry, Sinika Minnieweather, Dr. Lester Wayne Johnson, John Thomas, Neil and Gina, Dr. Kyle Bailey Bruyninckx and Ronda Roberts, Dr. Mathew Prine and Emily Morris, Katy Grimes, and the staff at RMRC who worked with her and kept her comfortable over the last several months. Thank you all for the love and care you gave her. 

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday April 27, 2023, at the Rayville Methodist Church with Rev. Daryl Tate and Rev. Aaron Carpenter officiating. Interment will follow in Rayville Masonic Cemetery, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home in Rayville, LA

Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Wednesday at the Rayville Methodist Church and Family Life Center.

Memorials may be made to the Rayville Methodist Church in Rayville, LA