Faire Caldwell Franklin

Faire Caldwell Franklin
Mrs. Franklin, 93, of Charlotte, passed away November 5, 2005. Born in Matthews, NC October 31, 1912 to John McCamy Caldwell (1861-1942) and Ella Shannon Caldwell (1885-1959), Faire had five brothers and six sisters.
Faire graduated from Matthews School in 1930, where she played on the girl's basketball team. She remained at home the following year to assist in the care of her new born twin brother and sister. Faire was employed by Duke Hospital upon earning her B.S. from Duke University School of Nursing in 1934.
In 1940 she returned to Charlotte as a private duty nurse and in 1941 took a nursing position in Columbia, SC. While in Columbia, she met Countiss Nolan Franklin, one of the first peace-time draftees into the US Army. They married in August, 1942 and soon afterwards Countiss was shipped off to the war in Europe. Faire returned to the family farm in Matthews where her oldest son Robert, was born. In 1945, the couple moved to New York, where their second son, Benjamin, and daughter, Eleanor, were born. The family returned to Charlotte in 1956. At Charlotte Memorial Hospital, now Charlotte Medical Center, Faire taught in the Hospital's Nursing Program, and served as Head Nurse. Faire was an active member at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, now Forest Hill Church, where she served as an Elder and on many committees. Faire was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She dedicated herself to helping people, not only through nursing, but through caring friendship and love for others. While vivid recollection was obscured in her last years, Faire was always touched by the love and kindness shown to her by family and friends during her fight with Alzheimer's, especially her church family at Forest Hill Church.
Surviving Faire are her three children and their families, Robert C. Franklin, his wife, Joy, and their son, John, all of Raleigh, and their oldest son, Mark Riley, of Charlotte; Ben, his wife, Linda, and daughter, Erin, of Charlotte, and their son, Joshua, of Raleigh; and Eleanor Jones and her husband, Jim, of Lexington, NC and their two sons, Chris and his wife, Jennifer, and David and his wife, Kelly, all living in Kentucky. Surviving great grandchildren are Casey Marie McAuley, Isaiah and Gracie Jones, and Mia and Jackson Jones. Also, Faire's brother, Don Caldwell and sister, Dot Black, both of Charlotte - the twins for whom Faire delayed her nursing training. Many nieces and nephews living throughout the country.
A service by the graveside will be held at 1 PM Tuesday, November 8, 2005 at Forest Lawn East Cemetery, Forest Lawn Drive, Matthews. A service to celebrate Faire's life will follow at 3 PM in the Charis Room at Forest Hill Church, 7224 Park Road, Charlotte, with the Reverend Tom Kakadelis officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Presbyterian Hospice, or to Forest Hill Church.
Arrangements by McEwen Funeral Service, Pineville Chapel.