Mr. James Jerry Franklin

James Jerry Franklin was born in Gilbert, LA. on November 15, 1940 to Jesse Leroy Franklin and Lillian Hazel Gilmore. He grew up in Bastrop, LA, Lubbock, TX, and Dallas, TX. He graduated from W. W. Samuel High School in Dallas, TX. He went on to begin his career with the Dallas Fire Department.

He joined the Dallas Fire Department on September 1, 1959. He studied to advance his career and was the youngest firefighter at age 32 to be promoted to Battalion Chief with the Fire Dept. His tenure was September 1959 to September 1991. When he retired from DFD he was 3rd on the seniority list, meaning that there were two other firemen with more tenure than Jim. After his retirement from DFD, he worked for 10 years for the State of Texas at the Department of Public Safety issuing driver licenses and giving driver tests.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Jesse Franklin, his mother Lillian Johnson, stepfather Kenneth Johnson, sister Helen Gale Harper, stepsister Elva Lois Gates and her husband, Larry Gates as well as nieces and nephews.

Jim is survived by the love of his life, Nancy, of 49 years, his children David Franklin, Darlene Floyd & husband Donnie, Michael Franklin & wife LeAnn, Stephen Green & wife Cyndi, Matthew Green & wife Christy. Grandchildren Chase Green, Tyler Green, Caelan Green & wife Whitney, Prater Green, Brennan Hardison & wife Taylor, Lauren Franklin, Brandon Dodson, Drew Vela, Trevor Vela, and four great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Jim passed away on October 8, 2026, at Discovery Village in Ft. Worth, TX after a long battle with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). So much of his memory was taken away from him but he remembered Nancy until the end.

Jim was a man of faith and loved Jesus Christ and would ask anyone he met if they knew Jesus. He loved playing golf, horseshoes, table tennis (ping pong) and was a ping pong champion with many medals. His love of chess was amazing. He taught all the children and Nancy how to play chess and he was a stellar chess player. He was actually undefeated until a few months before he passed. He enjoyed fishing and he took the boys to fish as well as play golf. He always made time for the children's activities including their sports activities. He was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather and he will be missed by many. We are at peace knowing he is with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Visitation will be held at Temple Baptist Church, 2501 Northshore Blvd, Flower Mound, TX 75028, US, on October 14, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by the Funeral Service at the same location from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.

A Committal Service will take place at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park, 5725 Colleyville Boulevard, Colleyville, Texas, on October 14, 2026, from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm.