Effie Dell Scoggins Lemmons Franklin

Effie “Dell” Franklin entered into her Lord’s presence on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. A resident at The Waterford on Cooper Magnolia Trails, she was 104 years and 5 months of age. Born in Longview, Mississippi, on February 23, 1919, to Loften Gould and Jo Della Scoggins, she was the middle child of nine siblings.

She married James Clifton Lemmons on June 23, 1940, on the cusp of World War II. Clifton joined the Navy and when his tour of duty was over, he returned to Mississippi for a brief period of time before he decided to move his family to Texas in 1947. Dell was a homemaker until Clifton died suddenly at the age of 34. She moved her two daughters, Anne and Charlene, to Arlington in 1954 where she found employment in childcare. Later, she worked in the dietary department of Arlington Memorial Hospital 11 years and retired in 1973.

She married J.D. “Jack” Franklin in 1972 and moved to his small farm in Colleyville, Texas. After Jack retired, they sold their Colleyville home and moved to another farm in Timpson, Texas. When Jack passed in 1998, she continued to live in Timpson until the fall of 2005 when she moved back to Arlington to be near Anne and Charlene. A few months after celebrating her 100th birthday, she broke an ankle and moved to assisted living because she required more help than her daughters could provide for her at home.

She placed her faith in Christ at age 17 and exhibited her faith with a meek and quiet spirit. She was a godly woman, a loving mother, a devoted wife, and a loyal friend. She was a member of Pantego Bible Church, now Central Bible Church, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Dell never met a stranger and had friends of all ages. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, and gardening. In Timpson and in Arlington after her retirement she was active in senior citizens groups where they enjoyed food, fellowship, and had fun playing games

She was preceded in death by former husband, James Clifton Lemmons and spouse J.D. “Jack” Franklin; sisters Grace Myrtle Lemmons, Maggie Ollie Benson, Nora Gertrude Lemmons, and Sarah Idabel Cotton; brothers, Robert Loften Scoggins, James Charlie Scoggins, Murray Lee Scoggins, and an infant sibling; stepson, Joe Franklin; and stepdaughter, Sharon Franklin Mathews. She is survived by daughters, Anne and Charlene Lemmons (Arlington), and stepdaughter Pam Franklin Guynes (Arlington).

The Celebration of Life will be officiated by Darryl Taylor.