2020 has been a year of profound loss to many families. Now it has claimed one of the best. To many who knew him, he was the Jeffrey Franks, a professional photographer capturing moments of sheer perfection through the lens of his trusted Nikon.
To others, he was First Sergeant Franks, the hard-driving Army Airborne Ranger from 2nd Battalion.
Still others remember him as the computer programming genius, solving complex problems for some of today’s top companies.
But to those who knew him best, he was just Jeff, husband, son, brother, cousin. A man of many talents, many ideas, and many admirable qualities. A warrior with the soul of an artist. A man who undoubtedly had many more stories just waiting to be told.
Born June 19th, 1957 in Nash County, NC to Harry Haywood Franks and the former Mary Cleo Hulsey or ‘Mama Jo’ as most knew her. Jeffrey Gordon Franks of Alpharetta, GA passed away from natural causes on June 1, 2020, returning to the vast and mysterious universe he so loved contemplating.
Jeff was smart, professional, and driven for success. First in the infantry stationed at bases from Hawaii to Florida with numerous deployments around the globe. Much of his early service career was at the 5th Ranger Training Battalion in North Georgia, then the 2nd Battalion in Hawaii and later at Ft. Benning. He was proud of his service to the country he so loved.
He credited the officers and his brothers in arms for molding him into the man he became. In 1997 after two decades in the Army he retired to begin the next chapter of his life. That included moving back to Dahlonega, where he earned both a BS and then a master’s degree in information systems management. In 2004, he founded his own computer consulting company, offering his services to Fortune 500 companies and governmental agencies nationwide. Two years later he also established his professional photography business, called 12-of-6 Fine Photography.
Jeff lived a life on his terms and was passionate about both the causes and people he believed in. He gave himself fully and unselfishly to those he loved. He had a particular gift for seeing things as they were, not as people wished they were.
He is survived by his wife Nawal, his brother Mark and sister-in-law, Cheryl Franks, and numerous cousins, relatives, and his former wife Barbara Franks whom he offered an early release due to good behavior. They will all miss his fun-loving nature; his dry, dark sense of humor; his keen intelligence, sense of curiosity and his huge, loving heart. In simple terms: he was deeply loved.
Jeff will be laid to rest next to his parents, at Eternal Hills Memory Gardens in Snellville, Georgia on Monday June 8th at 11:00 AM. May they rest in peace together, always. Extended family members and dear friends are welcomed to attend Jeff's funeral service via Facebook Live. https://www.facebook.com/Eternal-Hills-Funeral-Home-Cremation-Services-135373843179042/
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