About This Memory Space
This page was created for Carolyn Marie Franklin's family and friends as a place to remember them, to share stories, and to keep their memory close in everyday life.
It is cared for and added to over time by the people who knew them, and everyone is invited to contribute, whether that is a story, a photo, a few words, or a simple note.
Many families visit places like this not just once, but again and again, especially on quiet days or meaningful anniversaries. This page is here for those moments, wherever you are.
A place to return to when you want to feel close again, to remember a moment, or to leave a few words for others to read. Over time, it grows through the voices of everyone who knew and loved them.
Light a Candle Growing
Light a candle to honor Carolyn Marie Franklin's memory. Each lighting keeps their memory burning bright for 23 hours.
Candle lit burns 23 hours. Come back and light it again after 23 hours to keep the memory burning.
Limited to 5 lightings per hour to prevent abuse.
Memory Wall Growing
Stories, photos, and memories shared by people who knew Carolyn Marie Franklin. This is the heart of this space—a collection that grows as more people contribute.
No memories posted yet. Be the first to share a story or memory.
Life & Legacy
Carolyn Marie Franklin crafted a life rich in faith, family devotion, and simple joys, leaving behind a tapestry of warmth that enveloped all who knew her in Indianapolis and beyond.
Born in the close-knit community of Brownsville, Tennessee, Carolyn embraced her Christian faith early on, finding solace and purpose in the pews of Woodland Baptist Church. As she built her path forward, she carried that spiritual foundation into every chapter, eventually finding a new spiritual home at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Indianapolis. Her days were marked by a passion for nurturing others through her kitchen creations and quiet evenings immersed in scripture, while her love for discovering treasures on QVC added a spark of delight to her routine.
For more than two decades, Carolyn dedicated her skills and steadfast presence to Ertle Manufacturer, contributing her expertise until her retirement in 1997. In the years that followed, she poured her energy into caring for her grandchildren and the children of family and friends, offering unwavering support and creating a haven of care and stability.
Photos of Carolyn's Life
Family & Loved Ones
Carolyn's world revolved around the rhythms of family life, where she showered her three children—daughters Tracey L. Evans of Indianapolis, Latonya Flowers of Las Vegas, and son Byron Lewis of North Carolina—with endless affection. Her six grandchildren, including Janelle Flowers, Jarelle Flowers, Stacia Goliday, Shawnese Goliday, and Freddie Robinson Jr., along with seven great-grandchildren such as Jakira Parrish, Samiya Leonard, and Kross Goliday, brought her immense pride. She also raised three cherished cousins—Sharon Hess, Michael Hess, and Kim Hess—like her own. In 2009, she found companionship in marriage to Virgil Franklin, who preceded her in 2024. Carolyn's surviving sisters Thelma Light, Rosa Burrus, Beverly Evans, Connie Allen, and Glenda Flagg, brothers Edgar Evans, Dudley Evans, and Cecil Evans, sister-in-law Maxie Mitchell, and dear friends Dortha Douglas and Annie Marie Tyus were all touched by her generous spirit, known for whipping up batches of her famous banana nut bread to share at gatherings.
Remembered by Friends & Family
Tributes from Carolyn's circle weave a vivid portrait of a woman whose quiet strength and baking prowess left an indelible mark, with many recalling her as the heart of family traditions and faithful gatherings.
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