Mary Ellen Dicus Franks
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 7, 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 time 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; and a special thank you to Gentiva Hospice and their special team of caregivers of Baldwyn, MS for all their kind and devoted care to Mrs. Franks during her time of illness.
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 included Jarvis Curtis, Patrick Bell, Joey Horton, Jamie Horton, Chris Jackson, and Stan Bromley.
Honorary pallbearers included Bradley Franks, Ricky Bell, Kenny Smith, and Johnny Murphy.
Funeral services were held March 13, 2025 at 11:00 am at Bates-Love Funeral and Cremation, LLC in Waynesboro with Conrad Sellards and Heather Franks officiating. Burial followed in the Clifton Cemetery in Clifton, TN.
Visitation with the Franks family was on 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.'
Bates-Love Funeral and Cremation, LLC is honored to serve the family.
