ELSIE "LADY DI" FRANKLIN Obituary (1945 - 2025)

On October 1, 1945, Herman and Alcenia Reece were blessed by the arrival of their beautiful baby girl, Elsie Dianne. Her grandmother/Midwife, Inez Black in Cleveland Texas, Liberty County delivered her. During her early childhood, she was loved and nurtured in the close-knit community of her birth. At the tender age of 3, the young family relocated to Houston. Elsie attended Brock Elementary School, and Harper Jr. High School, and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1964. At that point, her middle name came to override her first name, and everyone lovingly called her “Dianne.” “Known for taking care of business” she availed herself to various industry course studies. She attended Houston International Business College, San Francisco Trade School, College of San Mateo, and Florence Switchboard Training Systems. Her first job offer with Allied Maintenance Corporation as head Receptionist fueled her rise in her career to Fireman's Fund Insurance as a Rater. She was employed with California Casualty Insurance as a Technical Assistant in the Worker's Compensation Department, where she retired after 25 years of stellar service. Dianne received many accolades for her outstanding work, training, and support for the many charity functions sponsored by the company which became her early passion for Community Outreach. Dianne and Delester Smith (deceased) vowed their love for each other and their union produced two daughters: Lynncia Danette Smith and Kimberly "Renee" Smith. She later united with her life partner Louis Edwin Franklin (deceased), and from this union, Revlon Dianne Franklin made her arrival and joined the “divine daughters circle.” Dianne was known for her warm smile and generous spirit in Houston and San Bruno, California where she lived for over four decades. Dianne was a praying motivational force for her children and grandchildren. She cultivated a loving Christian family structure and her nurturing and steady guidance left an indelible mark on their lives. Early in life, the flame of faith was ignited, and she dedicated her life to Christ and was baptized by Rev. R. L. Archield at the Hill Zion Baptist Church in the First Ward community. While on California soil for over 50 years her affiliations of service included; Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist - Rev. Richard R.O. Brown Star Of Hope Missionary Baptist Church - Reverend Billy Jackson New Life Fellowship Church - Pastor Chriswell First Baptist Church of San Bruno, CA - Pastor Chris Ball Her faithful commitment to Christ led her to positions such as; Church Secretary/Treasurer, Choir Member, Sunday School teacher, and head of the Homeless Women Ministry and Teen Prison group. Her kind human touch positioned her to care for the sick and shut in. Diane took her role as mother, grandmother, big sister, sister-in-law, cuz, and girlfriend seriously. She endeavored to keep God first in all things; especially her immediate family. She was devoted to her daughters, her grandsons, her siblings, and all of God’s children. She had a heart of gold that she shared with everybody in countless ways. But don’t get it twisted; the word “grand” took on a new meaning when it came to her grandsons. There was no mountain too high or no distance too far that she would not travel to demonstrate her love and support. She always “left the light on” for family and friends who visited from Texas and abroad. As her health challenges escalated, Dianne made it clear to her daughters that she wanted to return to Texas to be near her family, and of course, they put the wheels in motion. Upon her return, she immediately connected with the Kashmere Gardens Baptist Church through Christian Experience, as stipulated in the Baptist Church Covenant and endorsed by Pastor Edward Durant, Jr. On January 10, 2025, in the presence of her dutiful “divine daughters” her care team, and other family members, Dianne’s spirit was received into the bosom of her heavenly father as her life assignment had been completed. She is preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Alcenia Reece; one brother, Herman Reece, Jr.; brother-in-law Dennis Keels; one sister, Tilda Joyce Keels; nephew Romeo Reece, and niece Heather Brooks-Reece and cousin Sheryl Ann Davis. Many are left to cherish her memory and foster her legacy, namely her loving and attentive daughters, Lynncia Danette Smith, Kimberly Renee Smith, and Revlon Dianne Franklin. Siblings: Shirley Waltersdorf (Frank); Cleotis Reece (Diane); Linda Whitaker (James); Marilyn Baker; Melba Cloud; Virginia Oliver (Anthony); Calvin Reece and Lucretia Lewis (Loyd). Grandchildren Dalyn James Pacheco-Smith, Jason Raul Najarro-Smith, Charles Dante Joerecy Moore, Larry Eugene Kilgore III, Detwan Jerome Kilgore, Terrell Kilgore, Cliffonda McCarver, Larishia Kilgore, Sister-in-Law Sandra Brooks-Reece whom she loved dearly and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who loved her and she loved them. The spirit of those we love never goes away but lingers in our minds every day. Though unseen and unheard they are always near…so loved, so missed, and always very dear.