At St James Methodist Church, a solitary story red-block in the city’s seventh ward, the Reverend Joseph Tilly presented Luke section 15 as he grieved Timothy Franklin, 61, and his siblings Anthony, 58, and Herman, 71. “The three extravagant children,” he told the little church gathering of lamenting family members sitting a good ways off from one another, “They have returned to their wonderful dad.”
Tilly had educated “the young men” since they were youngsters at Sunday school. “I implored before the administration and God invigorated me,” he said.
The following day, at Ebenezer Baptist, minister Jermaine Landrum read from Occupation, part 1 as he recalled the siblings’ mom, 86-year-old Antoinette Franklin, a deep-rooted admirer at the congregation who, only half a month sooner, had grasped Landrum and expressed gratitude toward him for another Sunday administration.
“It was annihilating,” said the minister, considering the guidance he provided for Franklin’s enduring nine youngsters. “Would you be able to envision losing a mother and three siblings surprisingly fast? It’s a catastrophe for our locale.
