Stephen "Steve" Gregory Franks, Sr. passed from this world into the arms of his Lord on November 5, 2022, after a brief illness while surrounded by his family.

Visitation will be Tuesday, November 8, 2022, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS. A funeral service will be Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 10:00 AM in the Lowndes Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Jerry Pounders, Jr. and Bro. Josh Pounders officiating. Graveside will follow at 2:00 PM in Gilvo Cemetery, Mooreville, MS with Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS directing.

Steve was born in Tupelo, MS to James Thomas and Mary Evelyn Gory Franks on February 27, 1953. Steve graduated in 1971 from Tupelo High School where he lettered in wrestling and football. He attended Itawamba Junior College on a football scholarship and went on to graduate Delta State University in Law Enforcement where he played football and was a member of the "M" club. Steve married his sweetheart, Mary Lynch Franks, in May 1974. They made a life in Cleveland, MS while Steve continued his education and worked at the State Penitentiary in Parchman, MS. He also worked for the Cleveland Police Department where he started as a patrolman and worked his way to Lieutenant. They moved to Everglades National Park in 1978 where he was a seasonal ranger for 6 months. They returned to Maben, MS where he became a fulltime Park Ranger on the Natchez Trace Parkway. While on the Parkway they also lived in Cherokee, Alabama and Hohenwald, TN. After 10 years in the Park Service, he transferred to the Federal Office of Personnel Management in Knoxville, TN where he was an Investigator. He was transferred to Clinton, MS as an investigator where they spent 10 years. He later transferred to the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure as an investigator from which he took disability in 2000. Steve was an avid hunter for many years and he loved hunting with his father and brother and later his sons and nephews. He coached each of his sons on baseball teams in TN and MS. He was very involved with the Boy Scouts of America for many years. He was Scout Master of a troop in Lenoir City, TN before moving to Clinton in 1990 and becoming Scout Master of Troop 88 through the First United Methodist Church. He loved the outdoors and teaching the young men life lessons and especially how to cook with cast iron. He attended many weeklong camp outs during the summer to spend time with his boys. He took each of his 3 sons on a 10-day Outer Banks canoeing excursion into Canada. Steve was raised Baptist but joined the Methodist faith after marriage. He loved the many churches they attended over their 48-year marriage. He was a kind and gentle man and loved his family immensely, especially his 7 grandchildren. Steve was preceded in death by his parents.

Steve is survived by his wife, Mary Lynch Franks of Caledonia, MS. His 3 sons, Stephen "Greg"ory Franks, Jr (Jamie) of Utica, MS., Jason Scott Franks, Sr. (Jessica), of Caledonia, MS, and Lee Scribner Franks (Marti) of Caledonia. Seven grandchildren, Alyssa Marie Franks, Robert Conner Franks, Jason Scott Franks, Jr., Marlee Kate Franks, Cole Scribner Franks, Jackson Taylor Franks and Johnathan Tucker Franks. His three siblings, Donna Franks Jackson of Murfreesboro, TN., Sharon Franks Connell (Kerry) of College Grove, TN., and Jeffery Thomas Franks (Kim) of Spring Hill, TN., many nieces and nephews that he loved and adored and friends that he has made over his lifetime.

Pallbearers will be Greg Franks, Jason Franks, Lee Franks, Conner Franks, Scott Franks, and J. T. Franks.

Memorials made be made to Boy Scout Troop 88 First United Methodist Church, Clinton, MS or St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Memphis TN