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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Alvernia Franklin
ALVERNIA FRANKLIN
Cedar Rapids
Our beloved Alvernia Franklin, 94, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, at her home. Visitation: 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, at New Jerusalem Church of God In Christ, Cedar Rapids. Funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial: Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Everyone in attendance is respectfully requested to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, assisted the family.
Alvernia was born Jan. 17, 1926, in Thornton, Ark., the daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Roach) Beets. She married Samie Franklin on Sept. 3, 1953, in Louisiana. Alvernia worked at the Montrose Hotel, Amana Refrigeration and Weyerhaeuser Box Factory until her retirement. She was a devoted member of New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ. Alvernia was a woman of deep faith and knew from where her help came.
Alvernia enjoyed watching all types of sports including baseball, football, golf and basketball. She loved a good western and was a loyal soap opera fan. Alvernia had a sweet tooth for candy and Pepsi and never turned down greens or cabbage, which her daughter, Flossie, always made sure she had. Alvernia enjoyed time with her family and she loved them all very deeply, especially the "babies." She will be missed.
Survivors include her children, Flossie Wright of Cedar Rapids, Shawn Franklin of Hiawatha, Floristine Turner of Las Vegas, Nev., Donnie Franklin of Cedar Rapids, Earnestine Clark of Memphis, Tenn., Harriett (Antonio) Watkins of Marion, Iowa, and Vernelle Franklin of Cedar Rapids; bonus son, King Browning of Cedar Rapids; over 135 grandchildren, great- and great-great-grandchildren; siblings, Colbert "Billy" (Clay) Beets and the Rev. Wendell (Lenora) Beets; sister-in-law, Pastor Mary Beets, all of Cedar Rapids; many nieces, nephews and extended family members; special friend, Dorothy Cooper; and cousin, Alice Bell.
She was preceded in death by her parents; spouse, Samie in 1994; sons, James "Junior" Browning Sr. and Dennis Watson; four grandchildren; and siblings, Mamie Beets, Lavernia "Smokey" Johnson, Alvin, James, Thomas and Bishop Paul Beets.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Please share a memory of Alvernia at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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