Patricia Franklin

A Beautiful Death from a Beautiful Life

In the early morning hours of Saturday, August 24, 2024, Patricia Ann “Pat” Franklin, with 78 years, exhaled her last, long breath and peacefully slept away into the arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in a room full of God’s peace, praise and worship music.

Patricia Ann Mitchell was born to Archie Mitchell, Sr. and Lorene Hobbs Mitchell on July 18, 1946 in Columbus, Ohio the second eldest of six children. She would accept Jesus Christ at an early age at Refuge Baptist Church. Patricia would attend East High School briefly until the family moved to 2139 Oriole Place. In 1964, Patricia graduated with high academic honors from Linden McKinley High School. In the fall of 1964, Pat matriculated to The Ohio State University, became a member of The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in 1967 with her sister Gwen, and earned her bachelor's degree in 1968. Pat would then begin making her impact on students in Cincinnati, Ohio’s public schools as an English and Spanish teacher. She would return on weekends to Columbus and teach Sunday School at (Gay Street) Tabernacle Baptist Church where her parents were members.

On August 22, 1970, Patricia married Q. David Franklin, Jr. at (Gay Street) Tabernacle Baptist Church and moved to Detroit, Michigan to begin their lives together. Their marriage would produce one daughter and two sons: Sonya, Leon and Mark Franklin. Pat and David would eventually separate, but would remain friends and share 8 grandchildren: She was lovingly known as “Gran” and loved spoiling her grandchildren.

In 2006, Pat would retire from Detroit Public Schools as an executive principal from Healy International Academy and Burt Elementary School. Her parents Archie Mitchell, Sr. and mother, Lorene Mitchell, would precede her in death in 2007 and 2014 respectively. In 2018, Pat moved with Sonya and Jerome to the South while beating the odds of Alzheimer’s disease for approximately 10-plus years. Pat now wears the crown of life–that is God’s promise.

She leaves to cherish her memory: Friend and Father of her children: Q. David Franklin, Jr., Daughter Sonya (Jerome)Franklin Burney; sons Leon and Mark Franklin; Grandchildren: Former Daughter in love, Seta Ghazarian Franklin. Siblings: Sisters Barbara (James) Pender; Gwendolyn (Lucien) Edmonds; Archie Jr. (Pat Scott) Mitchell; Reginald (Sandy) Mitchell and Percy (Marva) Mitchell. Nieces and nephews: Heidi (Stuart) Starnes; Heather (Willis) Orr, Christopher (Nicole) Edmonds, Jamie (Jessica) Mitchell, Corey (Dana) Mitchell, Julian T. Mitchell, Randall (Jessica) Mitchell and Steven (Jordan) Mitchell with so many more relatives, cousins and family friends.