Chester "Slowly" Franklin, 81, went home to be with the Lord and his loved ones before him. He passed at John F. Keever Solace Center in Asheville, on December 13, 2022. Born on July 8, 1941, he was the son of Furman and Agnes Franklin.

He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Betty Caldwell, 2 sons; Marlon and Scottie Franklin, and their half-sister; Nan Brillant and granddaughter; Dorsey Ann Franklin.

He is preceded in death by his brother, Van Franklin and his sisters, Valerie Horton, and Shirley Fender. His sisters and brother left to cherish his memory, are Laurie Lewis (Jeter), Linda King (Dallas), Mary Brooks (Gary) and brother, Andy Franklin, his nephew who was also like a brother, Dale Lewis (Pam) and a slew of nieces and nephews who loved their "Uncle Slowly".

He was a beekeeper, a farmer and at one time raised beef cattle and hauled hay for people. He loved to ride his 4-wheeler (which always got him in trouble). He was Vice-President of Farm Bureau Federation Insurance for over 20 years and loved going to Raleigh for meetings.

He truly loved his wife, family, and his Lord and Savior. He was a lifelong member of Chapel Hill Baptist Church, and spent 40 years as a bible camp cook. Slowly never met a stranger and he loved everyone he met, he always tried to help everyone he could, and he believed in being a good neighbor to everyone.

A visitation will be held from 1:00-2:30pm Sunday, December 18, 2022, at Blue Ridge Funeral Service, with the service immediately following, at 2:30pm. The burial will follow at the Franklin Cemetery on Barnes Branch Road. Pastor Matthew Roberts and Dallas King will officiate as well as a special friend Jimmy Cowan. Music by Rachael Ray and Sandy Zimmerman. Masonic Rites will be conducted by French Broad Masonic Lodge 292, where Slowly belonged for 43 years.

Special thanks to all who cared for him during his illness.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservices.org.