Frankie Franklin-Foxx Obituary (1955

Frankie Franklin-Foxx, (born Waverlynn Franklin), 68, of Chicago’s North Side, passed away peacefully December 13, 2023 at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston. Born at Cook County Hospital, Frankie graduated from South Shore High School and worked a variety of jobs over the years including, switchboard operator at Wieboldt’s Department Store, the Drake Hotel, and Combined Insurance (now AON Corp) and then later as a Medical Technician at UIC Department of Psychiatry College of Medicine. Frankie earned an Associate’s Degree from Truman College and studied Psychology through the DePaul-Truman Bridge Program. She was deeply involved with the Chicago Women’s AIDS Project as a client and a peer counselor who also sat on the Board of Directors. Frankie worked at “The Blue House”, advocating for women and children with AIDS promoting outreach, education, and prevention. Frankie has a panel on the AIDS Quilt. She was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey and Dan Rather as the longest-surviving woman with AIDS. She was well-known and dearly loved by her peers. She will be remembered as a very strong and outgoing character-- a feisty fighter! Mother of the late Holly Marie Franklin, Jolynn Tiffon Franklin, and one other daughter. Very proud grandmother “FuFu” of Joshua Sterling Franklin, Jaron Uriel Yehudah, Sr., Atraue “Tre” Franklin, Drace “D.J.” Talley, Lord-Damien Talley, Jolynn Tena Marie Franklin, Jori Brion Franklin, London Franklin, Holly Harrison, Stathis Franklin, Waver Lear, Business Franklin, Spring Franklin-Stitch, and three others. Great-grandmother of sixteen. Dear sister of Sheron (Clarence) Harris, Willie (Carmen Phillips) Franklin, Jr., and Lionel Ellis. Former spouse and dear friend of “Papa” Tim O’Brien; best friend of Brenda Crump, Gwen Talley, Arthur Harris, Mario McKenzie, Steve Scheller, Lea Scott, and the Nance and Adams families. Also preceded in death by parents Willa Bell Garrett Franklin and Willie Franklin, Sr., and siblings Reginald King Mason, Holly Franklin, Ruby Franklin and the late infant Bernadette. Private family service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Chicago Women’s AIDS Project, www.cwapchicago.org. Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-370-2959 or www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.