Services for Josie Stapleton Franklin, of Wesson, are 4 p.m.Saturday, June 11 at Jericho Church of Christ with burial in thechurch cemetery.

Visitation is Friday from 1-7 p.m., with a wake from 7-8 p.m. atWilliams Mortuary.

Mrs. Franklin, 97, died June 8, 2005, at Southwest MississippiRegional Medical Center in McComb. She was born in Copiah County onApril 16, 1908, to Charlie Davis and Louella Farley Davis.

She was a retired teacher with 17 years of service in the CopiahCounty Public Schools. She was a member of Jericho Church of Christwhere she was awarded a certificate of faithful service afterserving 60 years.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her first husband,Manuel Stapleton Sr.; her second husband, Sampson Franklin; herbrothers, C.J. Davis, Murphy Davis, Sidney Davis, Herman Davis,Willie Davis, Hugh Davis and James Davis; and her sisters, JessieDavis, Mattie Davis, Nellie Davis and Bessie Davis.

Survivors are her sons, Manuel Stapleton Jr. and his wife,Sarah, of Wesson, Eugene Stapleton and his wife, Christine, ofWesson, M.H. Stapleton and his wife, Marier, of Bowie, Md., andHarold Stapleton and his wife, Shirley, of St. Louis, Mo.; herdaughters, Charlean Stapleton, of Chicago, and Gladys Banks and herhusband, Will, of St. Louis; her brother, M.L. Davis and his wife,Janie, of Hazlehurst; 31 grandchildren; 58 great-grandchildren; and41 great-great-grandchildren.