Obituary of Nancy Johnson Franklin

NANCY  JOHNSON  FRANKLIN

Kingsport- Nancy Clara Johnson Franklin, 78, of Kingsport, went to be with the Lord on January 6, 2019 at Holston Valley Medical Center following a courageous battle with kidney disease. 

She was born at home in the Carter’s Valley area of Kingsport on October 7, 1940 to the late Haskel Guy Johnson and Margaret Emma Johnson.  She then moved to Oak Ridge, TN with her family when her father was sent to work there during World War II.  After several years, she returned to Kingsport.  Nancy was a 1958 graduate of Sullivan High School.  In 1960, she married Everett Franklin, who was a 1956 graduate of Lynn View High School.  She devoted her time to making a home for her husband and two children, Kathy and Michael.  She was always the homeroom mom at her children’s schools; mostly, because her children always volunteered her, but she thoroughly enjoyed making cupcakes for all the class parties.   Her interests and hobbies included traveling, sewing, reading, and latch hook rug making.  She later joined her husband in the furniture industry until her retirement.  The furniture business took their family to Fayetteville, NC, Savannah, GA, Nashville, Franklin, and Greeneville, TN.  In her later years, she returned to Kingsport to live near her family.  She was fortunate to have had a dedicated and loving companion, John Thomas (Tom) Dolen (Fall Branch) with whom she was able to share many years of her life. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Everett Glenco Franklin in 1988 along with her brother, Joseph Edward Johnson in 2015.

Nancy Franklin is survived by her daughter, Kathy Seaton and husband, Tony; her son, Michael Franklin and wife, Cathy; her grandchildren, Bradley Seaton and fiancée, Alex Livesay, Emily Seaton, Melinda Franklin, Kevin Franklin, Marissa Franklin, and Stewart Cowles and wife, Lillie; sisters, Judy Smith and husband, Ron, Janice Long and husband, David; a brother, Bill Johnson and wife, Katy: her sister-in-law, Patsy Franklin; her brother-in-law, J.B. Robinson; and her loving companion, Tom Dolen.  She is also survived by her many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins along with a host of friends and awesome neighbors.

A visitation will be held on Saturday (January 12, 2019) from 10 a.m. until 12 noon at First Baptist Church of Kingsport, Church Circle or friends may also call anytime at the residence of the daughter.  A funeral service will be held at 12 noon at First Baptist Church of Kingsport, Church Circle with Dr. Marvin Cameron officiating.  A graveside service will follow the funeral service at Oak Hill Cemetery with Bradley Seaton, Logan Dykes, Joseph Slonaker, Jamie Smith, Tommy Nguyen, Greg Laughlin, and Tron Dareing serving as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers will be Kevin Franklin, Jeff Hammonds, Jeffrey Murphy, and J.B. Robinson.  You can send an online condolence to the family by visiting www.cartertrent.com.  Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport is serving the Franklin family.