Betty Hawthorne Franklin
June 5, 1943 – August 1, 2021

Betty Hawthorne Franklin, 78, of Pleasant Hill, OR was born June 5, 1943, at her home in Whigham, GA to Mattielene Barber Hawthorne and Marvin Hawthorne.  She died August 1, 2021, at Magnolia Memory Care in Cottage Grove, OR of Alzheimer’s.

Betty graduated from Whigham High School.  She married Gerald “Jerry” Franklin on April 29, 1966, in Tallahassee, FL and lived there until they moved to Pleasant Hill, OR in 1976 with their son, Gerald Franklin, Jr.

Betty was a hard worker from the beginning as a child in the tobacco barn. She helped her parents on their large farm doing anything that was asked of her and more.  Being one of seven children there was no shortage of work to be done.  After high school she began her 45-year career in banking where she was loved and admired by both employers and customers alike.  After she left banking in 2002, she went on to help her son by running the office at Franklin Contracting.  There she did everything from answering the phone and filing to running parts and trucks.  Everyone and anyone who had dealings at FCI knew Betty was “The Boss” and she wasn’t afraid to remind you all the way up until she retired with Jerry in December of 2014.

Betty loved being outdoors. You could always find her out on the patio or in the front yard sweeping the pine needles or picking up twigs.  She loved fishing, hunting and camping.  She really loved children and would light up whenever she was around them, especially her great-grandchildren.  She was fiercely loyal and was protective of those she cared for.  Betty was always quick to offer to help and didn’t shy away from the hard work.

Betty is survived by: her husband, Jerry; her son, Gerald and his wife, Trina; sisters, Carolyn Lowe (Ed), Shirley DeWitt (Bill); and brother, James Hawthorne (Angie); and 4 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by: her parents, Mattielene and Marvin Hawthorne; 3 brothers, Winston Hawthorne, Robert Hawthorne and Berl Hawthorne.

We, her family and her friends, will miss her always.

There will be a private family celebration in Pleasant Hill, OR and a private graveside service in Whigham, GA at a later date.