James Albert Franks was born to David Franks and Loretta Powell on May 2, 1951, in Stateline, Mississippi. All that knew him knew that he was head strong, feisty and said exactly what was on his mind. They knew that he was committed to his family, privacy and a voice of reason only when asked.

James grew up Prichard and attended Mattie T. Blount High School. Before he turned eighteen, he was drafted and served two years in the US Army at the end of the Vietnam era. After completing his basic training at Ft. Campbell Kentucky, he took his first trip to Germany as a new soldier. This was his first time away from home and he was said to be nervous but learned to explore the new things around him. After his two years, James returned back home to Mobile to find that there weren’t that many opportunities around him.

James went on to explore the world through the United States Army and made the decision to ask Linda, the girl next door, to marry him and join him. They were married 41 years until his transition.

After twenty-one years, James retired from the Army to Mobile, Alabama. He went on to work for the Prichard Police Department, Northrup Drummond and the Department of Transportation until retirement.

He will be missed by all of his loved one. Those Who Shared His Life Wife Linda Marie Franks; daughter: Aprille LeSean Franks (Jessie) of Oklahoma City, OK; son: Keddrick James Franks (Cheryl)of Oakland, CA; granddaughter: Ret. Airman Maya Shanice Franks, Tinker Air Force Base; soon to be great granddaughter: Ava Franks; mother: Loretta Hardy; second mother: Gladys Franks; brothers: Aubrey Hardy (Megan), Nathan Hardy, Robert Hardy (Tina Todd), Antonio Franks; sisters: Jo Ann Franks (Johnny), Irma Keys, Diann Franks (Doug), Kathy Hardy, Aretha Hardy; sisters- in-law: Loretta Garner of Dallas TX and Lorraine McKalpain of South Field, MI, Linda Ruffin of Mobile, AL; uncle: St.John Franks (Viola); a host of Nieces, Nephews and other relatives; Fred Gill, Kita Hall, Daniel Carraway and other devoted friends of MPMBC.

Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at Mt. Pleasant MB Church, 461 Texas St., Mobile, AL. The family will receive friends at 10:45am and the service will begin at 11am.

DIGNIFIED AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ENTRUSTED TO SMALL'S MORTUARY, 950 SOUTH BROAD STREET, MOBILE, ALABAMA, 36603.

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