At 1:50 p.m. Sunday, March 23, 2003, one of the Lord’s own, Carlton Darnell Franklin, returned home.

He said, &uot;It is time to go my child,&uot; and the gates of heaven opened up to receive Darnell, &uot;Brother,&uot; as we affectionately called him. In God’s mercy Darnell returned to our Heavenly Father swiftly and peacefully to receive his crown.

Carlton Darnell &uot;Brother&uot; Franklin of 913 Garfield Ave., Suffolk, was born on Nov. 22, 1945, in Nansemond County to Allie Franklin Sessoms and the late William Franklin.

He was a member of St. Paul Baptist Church where he served on the Male Usher Board.

He had retired from the Virginia Department of Transportation.

In addition to his father, he is predeceased by a brother William &uot;Billy&uot; Franklin, his stepfather, Elmo Sessoms, and his first wife, Serita Pugh Franklin, and to that union was one daughter, Vennia Franklin.

In addition to his mother, Allie Franklin Sessoms of Suffolk, he is survived by one devoted daughter, Vennia Franklin Harrell, and her husband, James H. Harrell III; four grandchildren, HaShon Saunders, DeShon Saunders, JaVon Harrell, and JarQuelle, all of Elizabeth City, N.C.; two loving sisters, Ethel Franklin Brown (McOlzer) and Phyllis Franklin Manley; one brother, Roland Rudolph Franklin (Yvonne), all of Suffolk; two stepbrothers, Rudolph Sessoms and Luther Sessoms, both of Wilmington, Del..; six uncles, Carl Boone (Minnie), Clyde Boone (Elsie), Harry Boone, and Roosevelt Franklin (Dorothy), all of Suffolk, John Sessoms and Horace Sessoms, both Wilmington; five aunts, Marie Franklin, Juanita Young, Verna Dare Alston, May Bell Artis, and Viola Boone, all of Suffolk; his wife, Charlene Beamon Franklin, of Suffolk; one stepson, Marcus Beamon, also Suffolk, and a devoted friend, Denise Montgomery, of Suffolk; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Darnell’s celebration of life will be held at noon Friday in St. Paul’s Baptist Church at 806 Lincoln Ave., Suffolk. Elder C.V. Russell III will be presiding. Interment will be held at Carver Cemetery.

The wake will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday in Abraham Applewhite & Son Funeral Home, located at 540 E. Constance Rd.

Darnell’s earthly body will be placed in the church at 11 a.m. Friday.

The family will receive visitors at 913 Garfield Ave. and 1101 Apt. K. East Washington St., Wilson Pines.

Abraham Applewhite & Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.