Ronald Keith Franks

Ronald Keith “Dude” Franks
July 7, 1944 – June 16, 2020

Ronald Keith Franks, 75, passed away Tuesday, June 16, after a four-and-a-half-year battle with acute sepsis infection.  Ronald was born July 7, 1944, in Memphis, Tennessee to Ronald Keith Franks, Sr. and Ruth Greer Franks.  Shortly thereafter, the Franks family moved to the Rockhill Community east of Macon, Mississippi, where Ronald resided most of his life.  Ronald attended the Macon school system and it was there he met his lifelong love, Abbie Fraley.  Ronald and Abbie graduated Macon High School in 1962 and were married on September 7, 1966.  After high school, Ronald focused on working and building the family farm with his father and brother, Nolan.  He spent a large amount of time with the cattle herd and developed into a fine horseman.  He enlisted in the Mississippi National Guard and served honorably from 1966 to 1972 achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant.  Work continued on the farm until the mid-1980s when Ronald started his second career with the Mississippi Department of Transportation.  He spent over thirty years servicing the state highways of Noxubee County and became a fixture of the road meeting and greeting many locals on a regular basis.  Ronald was an avid shooter, hunter, and angler.  Most of his free time was spent with family and friends hunting and fishing.  He also enjoyed motorcycling and his beloved Harley Davidson Heritage Softail, especially when riding with his brother Nolan.  Ronald was a longtime member and Deacon of Cooksville United Methodist Church.  He will be remembered for many things---likely most of all was his sense of humor.  His personality was literally one-of-a-kind and he never met a stranger.  Ronald was gifted in the art of storytelling and could always keep a room captivated.  “The Shop” at Franks Farm became a gathering spot for most of the farm families of eastern Noxubee County and beyond.  Anyone who attended one of the many cookouts and shop parties can attest that a good time was sure to be had by all.  Ronald’s personality also allowed him to befriend people of all ages and he had many friends from multiple generations including his beloved in-laws, the Fraley family.

Ronald is survived by his sons Ron (DezaRae) and Jeff (Carrie), his sister Rebecca Franks Field (Charlie), and grandchildren Layla Franks, Laurel Franks, and Anson Arrington.  He is preceded in death by his wife Abbie, brother Nolan (Shelly), and parents.

A funeral service will be held Friday, June 19, 2020 at Cooksville Methodist Church, 1496 Cooksville Rd., Macon, MS at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in church cemetery.  A walk through visitation will be held at the church from 9-11 a.m. Friday.  Seating will be limited because of COVID-19 restrictions. Social distancing will be practiced and a mask is required inside the church facilities.  Memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Rd., Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL  32256 or Cooksville Methodist Church, 2356 Cooksville Rd., Macon, MS  39341.  Cockrell Funeral Home is honored to entrusted with arrangements.