Obituary: Martha Nell Franklin

Martha Nell Franklin of Opelika went to be with her heavenly father on February 7, 2018 while surrounded by loved ones. Martha was born in Athens April 9, 1947 to Roy and Helen Featherston and was a lifelong resident of Henderson County.

On November 23, 1966 she married Emory “Totty” Franklin. They resided and raised their daughters in Murchison until retiring and moving to the Franklin homestead in Opelika.

Through her love and compassion for family and others, Martha spent many years as an LVN in the delivery room of Henderson County Memorial Hospital. Her nursing experience extended outside of the hospital as she unselfishly cared for loved ones and was heartbroken to have outlived many of them. Martha’s motherly role didn’t end with the deaths of her loved ones. She continued to be a mother figure to her nieces and nephews and their children, grandchildren.

She enjoyed and cherished spending time with her family, including weekends at the lake, reunions or just time on her porch. Over her lifetime she had many hobbies consisting of crafts such as acrylic painting and ceramic pottery, as well as reading romance novels and her elephant collection.

Martha had a special love for her family, and will be remembered as a loving wife, the most precious mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and sweetest most caring woman anyone ever met. She was also known as “Nanny” to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and more.

She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers: Roy Glenn and Jerry Featherston, sisters and husbands; Dorothy and Bill Hamrick, Evelyn and Charlie Poole; infant grandson Paul Anthony Franklin, sister in law and friend, Linda Franklin Carroll.

Martha was a loving, dedicated wife, mother, sister, aunt, friend and “Nanny” which will be greatly missed by her husband of 51 years, Totty Franklin, her daughters and sons in law; Peggy and Jimmy Goodall and Paula and Jeff Grubbs, 10 grandchildren and spouses; Crystal and Craig Hall, James Goodall, Ashley and Jacob Butler, Buddy Walker, James and Stacie Rogers, Brittany and Josh Thomas, Justin Grubbs, Trinity Goodall, Dawson Turner and Avery Grubbs, and 11 great-grandchildren. Loving in-laws; Thomas Carroll, Virginia & Bobby Knott, AC & Clara Franklin, David & Darlene Franklin, Albert & Elizabeth Franklin, and Gary Franklin. And many nieces and nephews in which she had very special and close relationships.

Services will be held Friday, February 9, 3:30 at Autry’s Carroll & Lehr Funeral Home with graveside services following at Red Hill Cemetery. Family will be receiving visitors February 8th evening from 6 to 7:30 at Autry’s Carroll & Lehr. Pallbearers will be Brandon Newbill, Buddy Walker, Dawson Turner, James Rogers, James Goodall, Josh Crim, Justin Grubbs and Josh Thomas. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jeff Johnson, Jeff Grubbs, Jimmy Goodall, Carl Wayne Pool, Roy Allen Poole, Kevin Head, Scott Brumsfield, Jerry Bryant Poole, David Poole and Jacob Butler.