Jerome Franks

Jerome Franks departed this life on February 24th, 2025, at home. He was born November 9th, 1952 in West Point Mississippi to Ida Belle Townsend and Dementral Franks, Sr. His father preceded him in death. Jerome and his family relocated to Kansas City, Kansas is 1955.
Jerome accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and was a member of Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church with his mother, Ida Belle, who taught him a devout love and responsibility to his faith.
Jerome was educated in the Kansas City, Kansas School District, attending Northwest Middle School and graduating from Sumner High School in 1970. He attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence, where he developed a strong love for KU Basketball and a great appreciation of the sport. His freshman year, he became a walk-on player for the Jayhawks. Jerome was a great lover of all sports, but basketball was his soul. Later during his college years, he pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., always proudly repping his black and gold alongside his crimson and blue. He graduated from KU in 1975 with degrees in Sociology and Philosophy before briefly attending law school. His love for KU basketball continued to run deep, and he rarely ever missed a game in his entire lifetime.
After graduating, he spent time as a Juvenile Probation Officer for the KCK Juvenile Court before beginning his career at the Kansas City Kansas Housing Authority in 1985. There he met his wife of 39 years, Earlene. Together they built a life and home filled with warmth, laughter, and love.
He was a loving and devoted father to John (Petey) and Jasmyn. His love extended beyond his children to their many friends, whom he showered with love and support like his own kids. He never missed a game, recital, graduation, or anything that came in between.
In addition to being a loving and devoted father, nothing brought him greater joy than being "Paw-Paw" to his four beautiful grandchildren - Yasmine, Jet, Tylor, and Tyshawn, who will always remember him for the forehead kisses and his warm spirit. They were the light of his life, and he cherished every moment with them.
During his career, he transitioned to the Housing Authority of Johnson County, from where he retired in 2022. In his retirement, you could find him doing the thing that he loved - spending time with family, watching KU basketball, cheering on the Chiefs, and catching as many rounds of Jeopardy as he could.
He is survived by his loving wife of thirty-nine years, Earlene Franks; his children, John "Petey" Thompson (Danielle), Jasmyn Franks and Myra Rodriguez-Thompson; his mother, Ida Belle Jefferson; his siblings, Maurice Townsend (Vickie), Voncetta Townsend, Willie Kendrick, Dementral Franks Jr. (Willie), Leon Franks, Jeanette Franks, Joyce Franks, Shirley Franks, Carl Franks (Gayle), Jeffrey Franks, Michael Franks (Lillie), David Franks, and Michelle Franks-Perry; and his grandchildren, Yasmine Thompson, John "Jet" Thompson, Tylor Thompson, Tyshawn Thompson, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
His kindness, wisdom, and unwavering love will forever be remembered by all who knew him. His legacy lives on in the family he adored, the lives he touched, and the memories he created.
A visitation will be held at Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church from 9:00am-10:00am on Saturday, March 8th, 2025, with a service to follow. Burial will take place at Highland Park Cemetery.