Mary Hardaway Franklin

Mary Hardaway Franklin, age 85 of Goodyear, AZ, formerly of Erie, fell asleep in death on Sunday, May 13, 2018. She was born in Eufala, AL on July 1, 1932, the daughter of the late James Herbert Hardaway and Louise Stephens Cooper.

Mary moved to Erie in 1949 as a newlywed with her husband, Nathaniel Franklin. He preceded her in death in 2012. They were married for 63 years. Mary was employed with GECAC for 24 years, where she was the Headstart program administrative assistant. She was a charter member of the Second Baptist Church, where she served as the President of the Deaconess Board for 35 years. Mary was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, the Golden Circle and the Daughters of Isis, Pharoah's Court #196. She and her husband were also avid Cleveland sports fans.

Mary was preceded in death by a sister, Catherine Reynolds; and two brothers, Jackie Stephens and Sylvester Frazier. Survivors include her loving children, Brenda Franklin of Erie, Beverly Franklin-Cruise (James) and Nathaniel K. Franklin (Victoria) both of Arizona and Lionel A. Franklin of Palm Springs, CA; seven grandchildren, Markeda Carmouche, Makiesha Franklin-Taylor, Nathaniel M. Franklin, Joceline Cruise, Lyndon Franklin, Maurice Franklin and Niklus Franklin; seven great-grandchildren, William, Tyler, Tia and Michael Taylor; Danielle Carmouche, Jalayah and Nathaniel M. Franklin II; two sisters; Lucinda Wright of Erie and Louise Brown (Tommie) of California; two brothers, Herman Stephens (Joyce) of Detroit, MI, and Bernard Stephens (Loretta) of Birmingham, AL; her brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and one special friend of over 60 years, Savanna Newell.

Friends may call at the Dusckas Funeral Home, Inc., 2607 Buffalo Road, on Friday from 4 to 8 pm and on Saturday at the Second Baptist Church, 757 East 26th Street, from 10 am until the Funeral Service there at 11 am, eulogy by the Rev. Lamont Higginbottom with Rev. Floyd McClure of Antioch Baptist Church officiating. Interment, Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery. The Order of Eastern Star will conduct a service on Friday at 7 pm at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be designated to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016