Donald "Don" Dee Franklin

Don passed away on Monday, May 1, 2023 peacefully in his sleep at the Levine & Dickson Hospice House at Southminster. He was only 67 years young. Having lost his almost six-month long battle with Stage IV pancreatic cancer, Don left the world in the wee hours of the morning under the watchful and loving care of hospice.

Born as one of a set of twins on the fourth of July in 1955, he was the son of the late Henry Edward Franklin and Elizabeth Parrott. He was raised in Oxford, NC and spent most of his schooling at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a jack of all trades and a master of all. If you name a job, Don Franklin has probably worked it or tried his hand at it. He was spirited, dauntless, exuberant and generous to a fault. He never met a stranger. To know him was to love him. You always felt like you were the center of attention with him in the room. All eyes on you, and he was the director. He was an accomplished chef, a fierce licensed cosmetologist, and a respected successful periodontist. It has been said that he could handle all of your head concerns in one sitting; cut your hair, feed you and then fix your teeth and gums. All the while, he could spin a good tale and entertain you with a joke or two.

He is survived by his adoring husband, Billy Bolton. This summer would have marked 28 years of their wonderful life together, both joined at the hip from the beginning until to the very end. He also leaves behind his older brother, Larry Franklin, twin brother, Ron Franklin, and older sister, Ellen Dickerson. Last, but not least, Don is survived by his feisty and incorrigible Jack Russell terriers, Fidget and Fumble. He always wanted to be reincarnated as a Jack Russell terrier owned by two gay men. Well, Pookie, here’s your chance! Get it, girl! A fur baby is just waiting to be born with your name on it.

A service to celebrate Don’s life will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 6th at the McEwen Funeral Home-Pineville Chapel, 10500 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28210. For those wishing to provide memorial gifts, flowers are always welcome, but please also consider donations to either Hospice & Palliative Care, Charlotte Region or the American Cancer Society.

Condolences may be offered at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com.