Mr. Cecil D. Franklin, Sr., 93, of 1 Walton Way, Rockmart, died Thursday, August 1, 2002 in a Rome Hospital. He was born October 1, 1908 and was a lifelong resident of Rockmart. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Glennis Thornton Franklin; parents, Andrew Jackson and Evelyn Sloman Franklin; sister, Florence Rackley Stensen and his brother, W.C. (Dick) Franklin. Mr. Franklin attended North Georgia College, Georgia Tech, and Mercer University. He was one of the oldest living members of Siga Nu Fraternity. After completing the Atlanta School of Law he practiced law in Rockmart for his lifetime. A cofounder of the Trial Lawyers Association of Georgia, Mr. Franklin was a criminal trial lawyer for several years, and practiced throughout the Southeast. He was admitted by the Supreme Court of the United States to try cases, and in later years he specialized in corporate law. Mr. Franklin served in the Georgia State House of Representatives and the Georgia State Senate for several years. He was elected Mayor of Rockmart and served as attorney of Polk County as well for the City of Rockmart as chairman of the Rockmart Bank which became Suntrust Bank. He served as president of many civic and church organizations, including the Kawanis and Rotary Clubs and was a member of Rockmart Masonic Lodge F&AM #97 and became a Shriner in 1948. He was a founding member of the Rockmart Library. Mr. Franklin was very active in the Rockmart United Methodist Church including being in the choir for many years. He was a member of the Rome YMCA and Cherokee Golf and Country Club in Cedartown. He is survived by his wife, Frances Popham of Rockmart; son, Cecil Franklin, Jr. of Charlotte N.C.; step-sons, Eugene Popham of Cartersville and Ray Popham of Cedartown; brothers, George W. Franklin of St. Petersburg, Fl.; Jerry Neal Franklin of Ft. Myers, Fl.; sisters, Mary Horger of East Liverpool, Ohio and Margaret Gore of Birmingham; three grandchildren and one great grandchild also survive. The funeral service was held Saturday, August 3, at 3 p.m. from Rockmart united Methodist Church with Rev. Carol Cook officiating. Interment followed in the Rose Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers: Harry Chappell, Jerry Jackson, Don Tate, Roger Waldrop, Bill Waters, and Troy Weldon. In lieu of flowers donations should be made to the First United Methodist Church, 135 Church St., Rockmart, Ga. 30153. Freeman Harris Funeral Home had charge of the arrangements. (Cedartown Standard, Cedartown, GA, August 08, 2002)