Lenn Madison Franks, 48, of Louisville, Tennessee, formerly of Tifton, died Monday, June 28, 2010 at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Memorial services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 17, 2010, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Charles Tyson will officiate. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.
Lenn was born on March 30, 1962 in Tifton and was the son of Maxine Tyson Franks of Tifton and the late James Wallace Franks. Lenn loved everyone, but held a special love for his wife, his family and his friends. He loved God and country! He was a member of Corinth Freewill Baptist Church in Tifton.
Lenn and his wife, Lisa, operated Egwani Farms Golf Course in Rockford, Tennessee, since 1991, after Lisa and the late Ernie Koella, Jr. developed the golf course on the Koella family farm. Operating this 18-hole golf course fulfilled a goal that Lenn had told his parents when he was in high school that he would accomplish one day. He was an expert in turf grass development and golf course management, having started working with Southern Turf and Tifton Turf Companies at 16, before he finished high school. Lenn loved life and lived life to the fullest!
In addition to his mother, Lenn is survived by his wife, Lisa Koella Franks of Louisville, Tennessee, who he married on January 8, 1991; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Diane and Ronald Pickens of Tifton and Wanda Franks Cofield of Tifton; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Lanny J. Franks of Tifton, Randy and Joyce Drawdy Franks of Jesup and Ronny and Sherrie Brewer Franks of Cumming; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ernie and Libby Koella of Rockford, Tennessee, sister-in-law, Karol Koella of Rockford, Tennessee; and numerous “adopted kids”, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephew.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley, 6720 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919-4829; The Ronald McDonald House, 1705 W. Clinch Ave., Knoxville, TN 37916-2433; or The Second Harvest Foodbank, 922 Delaware Ave., Knoxville, TN 37921-2013.