Valerie Johnson Franklin

It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Valerie Ann Franklin on August 10, 2024, following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Valerie was born on December 21st in Atlanta, GA, the oldest child of the late Valerie and Cecil Johnson, Jr. of Athens. Raised in Athens, she graduated from Athens High School and the University of Georgia. Following graduation, she worked as a speech therapist in the Clayton County schools. In 1967, she married Gary M. Franklin and moved to Germany where he was stationed in the United States Army. They later lived in Gainesville, GA and in Macon, GA but returned home to Athens where she and Gary raised their two sons, Marshall and Allen. She was an active participant in events at Athens Academy. Valerie worked as an event planner for the University of Georgia Continuing Education Center and as a partner in Our Complements, a personal shopping business.

Valerie was generous with her time and talents, as she was a benefactor to those in need, be they friends or strangers. As a member of The First Baptist Church of Athens, she helped feed the homeless through Family Promise and was on the Church Decorations Committee. She sponsored needy children and senior citizens at Christmas. As a member of the Junior League of Athens, she implemented Kids on the Block, a national puppet show designed to foster understanding of special needs children who were being transitioned into the public school system. She played the role of the deaf puppet Mandy to show other children how to use sign language. She was talented in floral arranging and was a member of Classic City Gardeners. She enjoyed being a member of Roadrunners and keeping in touch with her high school class members and many friends. She was a member of Athens Country Club and spent time there playing bridge with her friends. She was an avid bridge player and learned to play online so she could continue playing while quarantined during the pandemic with her trusty companion Cash by her side.

She is survived by her husband, Gary M. Franklin, her two sons and their spouses, Marshall and Sharon Franklin of Milton, GA and Allen and Meredith Franklin of Lexington, NC, her sister, Regina Johnson Taylor of Rock Hill, SC and her brother and his wife, Cecil “Weedy” and Kim Johnson of Dunwoody, GA. She is also survived by her nieces, Lacey Taylor Smith of Rock Hill, SC and Caroline Taylor of Columbia, SC and her nephews, Alex Taylor of Rock Hill, SC, Ryan Johnson of Atlanta, GA and Ben Johnson of Dallas, TX. Her great nieces and nephews include Taylor, Ann, and Hampton Smith and Mae and Ella Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to: the Athens First Baptist Church, 355 Pulaski Street, Athens, GA 30601; Athens Academy, 1281 Spartan Lane, Athens, GA 30606; or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; https://Pancan.org/donate

Graveside services will be Saturday, August 17, at 1 p.m., at Evergreen Memorial Park with Frank Granger officiating. The family will receive friends at the Franklin home following the service from 2-5 p.m.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.