Harold L. Franklin was born May 18, 1949, in Birmingham, Alabama. He was the first of four children.

Harold came to Chicago in 1957. He received the Lord into his life at an early age. He received his formal education at Rhodes Elementary and graduated from Calumet High.

He was joined in matrimony to Mary Walls on July 6, 1976, and from this union, two children were born. He was joined in the second marriage to Georgia and from this union, a son was born.

He departed his life on February 28, 2018. Celebrating his life and cherishing fond memories are a father, James Thomas, a devoted mother, Eleanor Thomas, three children, Andre, Lateefah and Brandon, four grandchildren, Ariel, Mariah, Andre, and Deandre, two brothers, Tony and Eric, two sister, Adrian and Sherry, two aunts Debra and Celeste, six uncles, Joe, Sylvester, Cornelius, Herman, Lloyd and Freddie, brother-in-laws, William and Dennis; one niece Denise, and a host of relatives and friends.

Franklin...

We knew you didn't wear your feelings on the outside for everyone to see. You didn't feel you had to chatter a lot to be heard. You sometimes liked to keep things to yourself, but you never fooled us, not even once.

- Mom

Franklin was very quiet and affectionate in his own way. There were times that being alone was what he wanted to.

- Mary Walls