Theresa B. Dawkins-Franklin

The Life & Times of Theresa B. Dawkins-Franklin

Theresa B. Dawkins-Franklin transitioned from this life on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at the age of 66. She was born on January 18, 1953 in Washington, DC to the union of John Henry and LaNoir Bragg Dawkins.

She joined West End Presbyterian Church on April 9, 1977 where she served as an elder and was member of the choir. She attended Peake High School and was a 1970 graduate of Malvern High School. Theresa continued her education and in 1979 she received her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Henderson State University and in 1990 she earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing.

She worked as a registered nurse and found she had a special talent for mental health nursing. She knew mental health patients were misunderstood. She specialized in psychiatric nursing for the Arkansas State Hospital for 17 years until she retired in July 2019. Theresa was a “nurse’s nurse” who found her true calling in caring for others. Her empathetic nature that made her as good as she was.  

Theresa was the proud mother of Tesha and Sharlton. She loved her grandchildren immensely and enjoyed spending time with them.  She loved to be in the company of family and friends. In her free time, she loved to shop and play a good hand of cards. She was a true and trusted friend.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Henry Dawkins, LaNoir B. Dawkins-Leeper (September, 30, 2016) and S. T. Leeper.

Theresa leaves an indelible imprint on the hearts of her children Tesha Sanders of Jonesboro, GA and Sharlton Merriman of Atlanta,  GA; three grandchildren;  a brother,  Rory (Erma) Dawkins of Conway, AR; a step-brother, Sam Thomas Leeper of Las Vegas, NV; sisters, Leslie Dawkins of Birmingham, AL and Denise Dawkins of Washington, DC; aunts, Jo Marie “Faye” Bragg of Arkadelphia and Jacquelyn Dawkins of Decatur, GA. She also leaves nieces, nephews, a host of cousins, friends and the West End Presbyterian Church family.

Public visitation will be Monday, September 23, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at West End Presbyterian Church, 1700 Logan Street with a repast for family and friends 5:00 -7:00 p.m. at the Community Family Enrichment Center.  A service in honor of her life will be shared at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church with Pastors Kenneth and Claire Rhodes, officiating. Interment will be in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens.