Betty Franklin Obituary
Betty J. Franklin, age 78, of Greenback, TN, died Wednesday (Nov. 12, 2025) after suffering from Alzheimer's dementia. She was a resident of the memory care unit at Foothills Transitional Care & Rehabilitation in Maryville, TN.
Betty was a graduate of Porter High School in Wildwood, TN, and attended the University of Tennessee on a business scholarship. She worked in logistics for a building supply company and multiple trucking companies before taking leave to care for her husband, a Vietnam veteran who served as a U.S. Army MP/sentry guard dog handler. She enjoyed music, reading and visiting the Smoky Mountains.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry David "Cowboy" Franklin; parents, James W. and Cora B. Chester of Maryville, TN; and a brother, James D. Chester of Maryville, TN.
She is survived by a sister, Katherine D. Bradburn of Maryville, TN; a brother, Thomas F. (Sharon) Chester of Knoxville, TN; three nieces and two nephews.
Companion Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Athens, TN, will handle her arrangements. She will be interred beside her husband in the Veterans Garden of Honor at Grandview Cemetery in Maryville, TN. No services are planned.
400 S White Street, Athens, TN 37303
People and places connected with Betty
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Memories and Condolences
for Betty Franklin
Tell your own story about Betty
Memories and condolences can be left on the obituary at the funeral home website.
How you can show support
Make a Donation
in Betty Franklin's name
How to support Betty's loved ones
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor Betty Franklin's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
