Sammy Jones Franklin, 81, owenr/editor of Jena Times

Sammy Jones Franklin, 81, of Jena, LA, left this earth for glory on Friday, January 28, 2022, at LaSalle General Hospital in Jena following a brief illness.

He was born on May 24, 1940, in Jigger, LA, to the union of Charlie and Alice Wall Franklin.
He was the owner, publisher, and editor of The Jena Times Olla-Tullos-Urania Signal, the official journal for LaSalle Parish, for 54 years, a job that he loved as much as life itself.

His life always centered around newspapers, starting out as a paper boy as a young lad in Caldwell Parish and by the time he was enrolled at Columbia High School, he was on staff at the parish’s newspaper, The Caldwell Watchman. Upon graduation from high school in 1958, he worked full-time at the newspaper as a reporter and photographer. Over the next ten years he honed his craft and a dream began to ignite inside him to one day own his very own newspaper.

That dream came true on January 1, 1968, when Sammy officially took over operation of two newspapers, The Jena Times, in Jena, LA, and the Olla-Tullos Signal, in Olla, LA. Those two papers would be combined within the first year of his ownership to: The Jena Times Olla-Tullos-Signal. During the past 54 years, he continued to improve the newspaper’s quality, from adding full color pictures, to updating to modern computers, and into the most recent modern age of the digital world. While many small town, weekly newspapers have closed or drastically reduced their sizes over the past half-century, under Franklin’s leadership, The Jena Times has continued to grow.

Sammy believed that to really have a successful newspaper, the publisher and editor must become a part of the community in which they serve. During his 54 years, he has been actively involved in many church, civic, and community clubs and organizations.

He helped organize the once very popular Jena Jaycees, which held the very first Howdy Neighbor Day, and he was a member of the Jena Kiwanis Club. He was elected and served a term on the Jena Town Council, has served as chairman of various committees and boards including the LaSalle Parish Library (of which his greatest pride was the construction of the new Jena Library), LaSalle Soil and Water Conservation, LaSalle Parish Ambulance Board, and has spearheaded many other community initiatives including the first-ever Jena Nighttime Christmas Parade, the first ever Jena High School graduation ceremonies outdoors, Jena Dixie Youth Baseball, and was instrumental in various companies and businesses deciding to locate to LaSalle Parish.

There was not one part of LaSalle Parish that was not touched, affected, and changed due to his influence as publisher and editor of The Jena Times.

He was a long-time member of Temple Baptist Church and then Midway Baptist Church in Jena and during his years has served in various positions in those churches, including deacon, music minister, and treasurer.

He was a friend to all and gave generously to many in need, always with anonymity. His life revolved around his Savior, Jesus Christ, his family, his newspaper, and doing everything he could for the betterment of LaSalle Parish.

Sammy loved the old-time, four-part harmony Gospel music and at one time was part of a Gospel music group that sang in the area. He was also a big fan of George Jones and loved to play his music and sing along to family and employees of his newspaper.

He was also very active in school affairs, consistently promoting academics as well as athletics, not only in the newspaper but also as an active fan. His donations and involvement are still affecting young peoples’ lives today.

Visitation will be held Monday, January 31, 2022, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Midway Baptist Church in Jena.

A Celebration Service will be held on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at 1:00 p.m., at Midway Baptist Church in Jena with Revs. Rick Feazell and Gary Norris officiating.

Sammy will be laid to rest following the service at the Woodland Cemetery in Jena under the direction of Kinner & Stevens Funeral Home of Jena with his sons and grandsons covering the grave.

Sammy was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Euna Mae Phillips, Bobbie Ruth Franklin, Linnie Nell Franklin, and Katherine Ellerbe; five brothers, Bruce Franklin, Tommy Franklin, Cecil Franklin, William “Bill” Franklin, and George Melvin Franklin; and two granddaughters, Lauren Franklin and Kassie Franklin.

Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Bonita Francis Franklin; two daughters, Penny Justus of Bastrop and Ashley Keene and husband Dustin of Jena; four sons, Glen Franklin of Jena, Craig Franklin and wife Kim of Jena, Scott Franklin and fiancée Jamie Clauss of Jena, and Charlie Franklin and wife Marissa of Alexandria; 18 grandchildren, Matthew Justus, Kerie Justus, Leah Floyd, Paige Franklin, Claudia Franklin, Reagan Watkins, Tyler Franklin, Tanner Franklin, Trace Franklin, Tripp Franklin, Ryan Franklin, Jenna Gonzalez, Rachel Franklin, Whitney Phillips, Samuel Keene, Sydney Keene, Judah Franklin, Jane Franklin, and one on the way - Jones Franklin; 14 great-grandchildren, Kensley Justus, Kambri Justus, Elijah Morgan, Jeremiah Morgan, Madilyn Floyd, Abbigail Floyd, Noah Floyd, Sofia Floyd, Karter Ratcliff, Addison Nelson, Hadassah Franklin, Cooper Hudnall, Wesley Franklin, and Landry Phillips; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends.

Pallbearers were Matthew Justus, Trace Franklin, Ryan Franklin, Samuel Keene, Hunter Floyd, and Devin Watkins.

Honorary pallbearers were Cleveland Poole, Harold Windham, Wayne Richardson, Reggie Ingram, Ronny Steele, Dr. Randy Ray, Tyler Franklin, Tanner Franklin, Tripp Franklin, Judah Franklin, and Caleb Gonzalez.

In addition to floral arrangements, if anyone would like to make a donation in his memory, please send to Sammy’s favorite Gospel-sharing ministry: Wild Horse Ministries, 460 Appleby Road, Trout, LA, 71371.