Mary Ellen Dicus Franks was born August 21, 1943, in Clifton, TN to her parents, her father the late Edward Dicus and her mother the late Lorene McDonald. Mrs. Franks spent her childhood in the Clifton area being surrounded by the beauties of nature. In her young adult years, she would meet the love of her life Mr. Billy Gene Franks and the two would marry on November 07, 1959. The two would remain married for 59 years until his passing in 2019. Mary Ellen was a hard worker as she spent many years as a seamstress at Clifton on Manufacturing and also as a clerk for the CCA Prison in Clifton, TN. Always mindful of her Lord, she was of the Baptist faith and a member of the First Baptist Church in Clifton. In her leisure me she enjoyed reading, shopping, word search puzzles, cooking her family’s favorite dish chicken dressing on special occasions but nothing compared to the time she spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mrs. Mary Ellen Dicus Franks passed from this life on March 10, 2025, in Baldwyn, MS at the age of 81 years, 6 months and 20 days.
She is survived by her children Debbie Curtis and husband Jarvis of Lawrenceburg TN, Teresa Bell and husband Ricky of Burns, TN; grandchildren Tanya Horton and husband Joey of Baldwyn, MS, Patrick Bell and wife Brittany of Dickson, TN, Bradley Franks of Waynesboro, TN, Hannah Sellards and husband Conrad of Waynesboro, TN and Heather Franks of Clarksville, TN; great-grandchildren Allie Belew of Baldwyn, MS. Jamie Horton of Baldwyn, MS, Riggins Sellards of Waynesboro, Harrison Bell of Dickson, TN and Bridger Sellards of Waynesboro, TN; siblings Sue Murphy and husband Johnny of Olive Hill, TN, Cathy Seltzer of Clifton, TN and Charles Dicus and wife Nancy of Olive Hill, TN; daughter-in-law Jennifer Franks Jackson.
In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her son Jerry Wayne Franks; sisters Dorothy Ann Kelley and Becky Walker and great-granddaughter Haley Belew.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers include Jarvis Curtis, Patrick Bell, Joey Horton, Jamie Horton, Chris Jackson and Stan Bromley.
Honorary pallbearers include Bradley Franks, Ricky Bell, Kenny Smith and Johnny Murphy.
Funeral Services will be held March 13,2025 at 11:00 am at the Bates-Love Funeral and Cremation, LLC in Waynesboro with Conrad Sellards and Heather Franks officiating. Burial will follow in the Clifton Cemetery in Clifton, TN.
Visitation with the Franks family will begin Wednesday March 12, 2025, from 5:00 pm till 8:00 pm and again on Thursday March 13, 2025, from 9:00 am till 11:00 am service time all at the Bates-Love Funeral and Cremation, LLC chapel in Waynesboro, TN.
