John P Franklin Funeral Home

John P. Franklin Funeral Home operates from 1101 Dodds Avenue in Chattanooga, Tennessee, carrying forward a family tradition that began in 1894. The firm traces its origins to George Washington "G.W." Franklin, who established the G.W. Franklin Mortuary as the first African American funeral director and embalmer in Chattanooga during the era of horse-drawn hearses and family coaches.

The business passed to the second generation in 1952 when John P. Franklin Sr., his brother Benjamin Franklin, and sister Mabel Franklin Taylor succeeded their father. A subsequent partnership formed as Franklin-Strickland-Reynolds Funeral Home, incorporating Fred Reynolds and Reuben Strickland. The firm has since returned to family ownership and operation, with John P. Franklin Sr. working alongside his children to continue the multi-generational commitment.

Today the funeral home maintains a full-service operation with licensed funeral directors, embalmers, pre-need specialists, licensed insurance agents, and notary publics on staff.