Mrs. Blonnie Coleen Young Franklin, 96, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Carolina Rehab Center of Burke, following a period of declining health.

Coleen was born on July 18, 1929, in Burke County to the late Marshall Young and Lela Cline Young. She was member of First Baptist Church Icard, and was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great great-grandmother, who served as the homemaker for her family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Herman Charles Franklin, three sisters, Louis Icard, Alma Ogle and Ruth McRary, and one brother, Virgil Young.

Surviving are her five children: one son, Ricky Dale Franklin and wife Debbie of Maggie Valley, four daughters, Elaine McClellan of Conover, Rhonda Robinson and husband Donald of Asheville, Wanda Smith of Asheboro, and Jan Kelly and husband Michael of Williamston, SC. Also surviving are five grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and four great great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 2:00 P.M., in the Chapel of Heritage Funeral Service. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Rutherford College.

The family will receive friends on Friday from 1:00 to 2:00 PM, one hour prior to the service, at Heritage Funeral Service in Valdese.

Memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church Icard, 2178 US Hwy 70, Connelly Springs, NC 28612.

An online guestbook and obituary is available at www.heritagefuneralservices.com

Heritage Funeral Service & Crematory of Valdese is serving the Franklin family.