Franklin, Artie Samuel

The Rev. Artie Samuel “Rev. Sam” Franklin, 104, of Radford, went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, September 26, 2012. He served his Lord for many years and was a member of the Radford Worship Center. He retired from the Lynchburg Foundry. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary McCraw Franklin; and sons, Bill and Jerry Franklin. Survivors include daughters, Wanda Lawson, of Radford, Frances Jones and husband, Louis, of Maryland, Phyllis Harris and husband, Paul, of Christiansburg, and Cynthia Crosier, of Radford; brothers, Van Webb Franklin and Quentin Franklin, both of Dublin; and 13 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, September 29, 2012, at the Gethsemane Baptist Church in Radford with Pastor Jerry Gibson, the Rev. Everette Shepherd and the Rev. John Tibbs officiating. Interment will follow in the Pentecostal Conference Cemetery in Dublin. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 5 until 8 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or at www.stjude.org. The Franklin family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford, www.mullinsfuneralhome.com.