LANCASTER, SC ~ Mrs. Emily Carnes Franklin, age 87, died Friday, June 16, 2017. She was born September 10, 1929 in Lancaster, a daughter of the late William Townsley Carnes and Hattie Mae Shute Carnes and was the wife of the late Robert Paxon Franklin. Mrs. Franklin retired from the Lancaster Convalescent Center as a nursing assistant. Her passion was preservation and accuracy of the history and the significance of the Buford Massacre and genealogy. She loved caring for people and was a member of Hopewell United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Franklin is survived by two sons, Ed Franklin and his wife, Tammy of Dandridge, TN and Joey Franklin and his wife, Jodi of Heath Springs; a brother, Fred Carnes of Lancaster; two sisters, Martha McCain of Lancaster and Jettie Fender of Knoxville, TN; five grandchildren, Jennifer Dillard, Jamie Franklin, Carrie Hall, Melissa Church and Olivia Green; and seven great grandchildren, Kesleah Joy Roberts, Aubrey Church, Cole Dillard, Cora Dillard, Kylie Franklin, Braden Franklin and Braxton Franklin.

Mrs. Franklin was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, J.T. Franklin; four brothers, David Carnes, Brown Carnes, Billy Ray Carnes and Ben Carnes; and two sisters, Mary Catoe and Peepsie Lee.

The Celebration of Life Funeral Service for Mrs. Franklin will be 3:00 pm, Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at Hopewell United Methodist Church by Rev. David Inman. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends following the service in the Family Life Center and suggest memorial contributions be made to Friends of Buford Massacre Battlefield, c/o Ken Obriot, 57139 Nightingale Way, Indian Land, SC 29707 or Hopewell United Methodist Church, 3734 Heyward Hough Road, Lancaster, SC 29720.