Willie (Franks) Thomas

It is with sympathy, the management and staff of Slater’s Funeral Home, Inc. announce the passing of Ms. Willie Franks Thomas, of Haddock, Georgia. Ms. Franks passed away on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.

Graveside services were held on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 1:00 PM from the Son's of Wisdom and Daughter's of Light Society Cemetery of County Line Baptist Church, Milledgeville, Georgia.

Ms. Willie Franks Thomas was born September 26, 1936, to the parentage of the late Ms. Amelia Pitts Norman and the late Mr. Clement Franks. In the early morning of Wednesday February 9th, she rested from her labor. She was proceeded in death by one son Desi A. Franks, two sisters Cordelia F. Gray and Hastie Lester, one grandson Peter Pope, one granddaughter Sandra Pope, and one daughter in law Pamela Pope.

Ms. Willie attended the schools in Jones County. At a young age she attended and became a member of Mt. Salem Baptist Church. Upon her return to Georgia, she attended faithfully.

Ms. Willie was a very stylish dresser from head to toe. She was a straight up person, even her silence spoke words,

Ms. Willie moved to Newark, New Jersey in the mid sixties to seek a better job opportunity for herself and a better life for her children. While in New Jersey she worked as a presser at a Dry Cleaners for many years. She was a “Mom” for many neighborhood children and to the friends of her kids.  

When her sister Cordelia died Ms. Willie returned to Georgia to assist her mom with Cordelia’s kids for a short while. Then in the late 70s Ms. Willie returned to Georgia to help care for her mother.

Ms. Willie worked for and retired from the Board of Education as a Bus Driver for the Special Needs Children. Oh, the joy she had when she talked of and reminisced of the children she cared for as she “chaffered” them from home, to school and back home again.

She leaves to cherish her memories; two sons: Larry Pope, of Macon and Marvin Pope, of Gray, her fur baby “Baby”, grandchildren: Desi Franks, Jr, of Gray, GA and Daja Pope, of Houston, TX; a devoted nephew, William Middlebrooks, devoted “daughter like friends” Paulette Brooks and Cynthia Brown, a niece Ann Dean, along with a host of nieces, nephews, great grandchildren and friends.

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