Helen Grace Franklin

Helen Grace Franklin, 60, of Morris and formerly of Robinson, Illinois, passed away Thursday afternoon February 18, 2010 at the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home in Joliet. Born September 7, 1949 in Kosciusko, Mississippi, Helen was a daughter of the late Robert Black and Johnnye Toller-Stovall. She was raised and educated in the Lockport area and on August 6, 1972, Helen married Joseph Franklin, Sr. in Robinson, Illinois. She was a Registered Nurse and worked for Dr. Karen Wakefield in Palestine, prior to gaining employment with the Illinois Department of Corrections, Dwight Correctional Facility, where she was currently the Health Care Unit Administrator. Helen was known for her love of traveling, real estate and shopping. Survivors include her husband Joseph Franklin, Sr. of Morris; three children, Randy Jae Franklin of Joliet, Joseph Franklin, Jr. of San Francisco, California and Bethany (Brett) Thackrey of Morris; three grandchildren, Alyssa, Zachary and Cannon Grace; one brother and sister-in-law, John (Deb) Stovall of Channahon; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Vivian (Tracy Poppelwell) Stovall of Princeton, and Alice (Keith) Miller of Channahon and special friends, Debbie Bogwill of Morris and Carolyn (Greg) Utterback of Robinson, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation and Video Tribute will be held on Saturday February 20, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. until time of funeral service 6:00 p.m. at Reeves Funeral Home, 408 East Washington Street (one block East of Illinois Route 47) in Morris. Pastor Kevin Yandell will officiate and the family would then like to extend an invitation for a memorial gathering and dinner immediately following the services at the Moose Lodge in Morris. Local visitation will be held Sunday, February 21st from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Goodwine Funeral Home, Palestine. Graveside services will be held at the Hutsonville Cemetery on Monday, February 22nd at 11 a.m.