Stella Bell Franklin

Stella Bell Mawyer Franklin, 89 of Madison Heights, passed from her earthly home into her everlasting home on Sunday, August 14,2011, with her children and grandchildren by her side. Stella had made her home in Monroe until 2001 when she came to live at the home of her daughter, Patsy Little, in Madison Heights. She was the wife of the late Ottie Preston Franklin for 60 years, having married on December 12, 1936.

Stella was born in Amherst County on December 5, 1921, the third daughter of the seven children born to the late Arthur Wilson Mawyer and Nellie Bell Hudson Mawyer. She was retired as a charge aide from the Central Virginia Training Center after 23 years of service. She was a member of West View Baptist Church where she was a Sunday school teacher. Stella was also a former Girl Scout troop leader.

Stella was a Godly and family oriented lady who loved her siblings, children, grandchildren and friends with the kind and gentle nature she always showed to everyone. In addition to her husband and parents, Stella was preceded in death by one daughter, Jean Franklin, two sisters, Viola Jennings and Maxine Adams, and one brother, Albert Stanley Mawyer.

Survivors include four daughters, Nancy Rogers (Bill), Patsy Little (Mack), Linda Spencer, and Shirley Schmitt (James), two sisters, Nannie Brooks and Bernice Wright, and one brother, Arthur Harold Mawyer (Madeline). Other survivors include 11 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, 6 great-great grandchildren, and 3 step great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and friends.

A graveside service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at Amherst Cemetery, by the Rev. Ronald D. Moore, her former pastor and friend, where her family will lay her to rest beside her beloved Preston. There will be no visitation at the funeral home. The family will be at the home of the daughter, Patsy Little.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Stella's name to the Monelison Fire and Rescue Squads. Whitten Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Monelison Chapel, is serving the family.