Earnest "Earnie" Eugene Franklin, Jr.

Earnest (Earnie) Eugene Franklin, Jr., 61, passed away Sunday, February 2, 2025, at home in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL surrounded by family and friends. Originally from Bessemer, Alabama, he moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1992.

Earnie enjoyed a long career in the IT industry with Florida Blue, BCBS of Minnesota, and completed his career as COO at VSP Vision, an international vision company.

At the beginning of Earnie’s senior year of high school, he met his sweetheart Brenda. Before meeting his Bamagirl he became an Eagle Scout, a state wrestling champ, participated in several all-state team sport championships, and played football (offense and defense) in middle and high school. Earnie and Brenda were married on April 5, 1986. Before moving to Florida, he started his career at NCP (National Computer Print) as a computer operations trainee and over the next eight years worked his way up to managing the data center. Through his involvement in professional organizations such as DPMA (Data Processing Management Association) and Xplor, he was noticed and selected to manage the data center at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida (Florida Blue) by his mentor, Wendell Jenright. Earnie and Brenda moved to Florida in April of 1992. While at Florida Blue, he served in many organizations in different capacities, including CIO at TriServe (a part of FL Blue), CEO and Board Chair of Incepture (FL Blue owned), as a “loaned” executive to the City of Jacksonville for Mayor Alvin Brown, and also earned his EMBA at Jacksonville University. 

Jacksonville University Executive Alumnus of the Year

During their time in Florida they welcomed their sons, Reagan Montgomery in 1994, and Carter Bush in 1997. In 2014 Earnie accepted a position at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, and in 2018 accepted a position with VSP in Sacramento, California. Earnie and Brenda divided their time between those cities and Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Throughout his life, Earnie was involved in multiple charities. He organized many fundraising events with family, friends, and co-workers, and helped raise thousands of dollars for United Way of North East Florida, Beyond Type 1 (formerly called JDRF), and PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network). 

Earnie is survived by his loving wife of almost 39 years, Brenda (Bush); sons, Reagan (Ashley) of Tennessee, and Carter; sisters, Jean Abel (James), Diane Chapman, Carol St. Charles, and Carrie Armstrong (John); brothers, Benny (Marsha), Richard (Marcia), and many aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Earnest, Sr., stepfather Guy Cowley, and mother Ann Cowley.

Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 15, 2025, 10:30am at Chet’s Creek Church, 4420 Hodges Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32224 – Reception to follow. If you are able to join us, please consider wearing Earnie’s favorite team’s colors; The University of Alabama (crimson, white, and houndstooth) or Auburn University, (orange and blue).

The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the following charities:

Chet’s Creek Church, PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network), Beyond Type 1 (JDRF), Autism Speaks, or V for Victory.