Esther "Dandy" Franklin Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Esther Ellen Terry (Dandy) was born on August 4, 1921 in Bennettsville, South Carolina. She was the daughter and the oldest of 10 children from the union of the late Charles and Georgia Murphy Terry. She grew up in the old 3rd ward section of Homestead, was educated in the Homestead Public School System where she excelled academically in 1941, Esther was united in marriage to James Charles Franklin. This union would produce 2 sons and last 66 years. Esther was a proud and loyal member of Park Place AME Church in Homestead, Pennsylvania for well over 70 years and was involved in every aspect of church life there. She was a member of the Virginia Gladden Club, The Mary A. Bumry Women's Missionary Society, and the Lynnie B. Murray Lay Organization. Most dear to her heart was her involvement and commitment to the Women's Missionary Society where she was a Life Member. Her past service to the Women's Missionary Society included: local secretary, conference treasurer, delegate to annual conference meetings and Lay Organization. Esther was also a member of numerous and civic organizations. The various offices that she held included: treasurer of the Virginia Gladden Club, past secretary and president of the Steel Valley NAACP, treasurer for the Delgards Community Organization, and VP for Church Women United, Esther worked for Kaufmann's Department Store in Pittsburgh where she was a respected and valued employee, retiring after 45 years of faithful service. She was a woman of few words and when she spoke . . wisdom followed. She was a private, independent, a no nonsense person who said what she meant and meant what she said. She was a loving mother and grandmother. Her family was everything to her and she spent the last years of her life in the loving care of her son Barry and daughter-in-law, Evelyn who was a devoted caregiver and companion to her. Esther was extremely intelligent and kept her mind sharp by reading, doing crossword puzzles, and keeping abreast of current events via CNN all day, every day! On December 24,2015 and after granting her the grace of 94 years of life, the Lord called Esther Ellen Franklin home. She is preceded in death by her husband, James C. Franklin, Sr. and son, James C. Franklin, Jr.; siblings: Charlie Mae Headen, Robert, Ethel, Gerald, and Antoinette Terry. She leaves to honor and cherish her memory her loving and devoted son, Barnett M. (Barry) Franklin, Sr. and his wife, Evelyn (Tootie Pie) Franklin; siblings: Georgiana (Clarence) Miles, Dorothy Lynch, Saeed Terry, and Geraldine Jones; 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; lifelong best friend, Harriet Cole and goddaughter, Sharon Russell; nieces, nephews, other family, her church family, and good friends too numerous to mention.

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Esther "Dandy" Franklin

August 4, 1921 - December 24, 2015