Hazel Elizabeth Free Franklin

Funeral services for Hazel Elizabeth Free Franklin, 78, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at Mansfield Funeral Home, 943 Polk St., Mansfield, Louisiana. Burial will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Bethany Cemetery, Parish Rd. 1221 in Marthaville, Louisiana. A visitation will be held on Monday, July 27, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Officiating the service will be Bro. Mike Naquin and Bro. Chris Berry.

Hazel was a resident of Frierson, LA  in DeSoto Parish. She was born July 25, 1947, in Converse, Louisiana to Truly Edward Free and Martha Lea Gates Free and passed away on July 22, 2026. She was raised in Marthaville and grew up working on her family farm. She attended Marthaville School before the family moved to Shreveport, LA  in her teenage years where she graduated from Woodlawn High School. She also attended Business College in Mansfield, LA. While working at Western Electric, she met and married Joe Franklin, the love of her life. They became a husband-and-wife team 18-wheeler drivers, working for years at J.H. Rose Trucking Co., enjoying many over the road adventures together. They made their home in Frierson, LA where she had their son, Chad. 

Hazel also worked at T.G.&Y., State Fair of Louisiana Concessions, Conco Foods and retired from Rhinehart Foods. Hazel loved the Lord and spent her life as a faithful, devoted, hardworking Christian. Hazel loved to tell everyone about Jesus. She was a beautiful lady, a living testimony of Christ where she worked and served in many positions for many years at her church, Kingston Baptist in Frierson, LA. She was on the cemetery board for Bethany Cemetery in Marthaville, LA.

Hazel was a caregiver, spending most of her life loving and caring for her husband, Joe, their son, Chad Franklin, and raising her grandson, Parker Franklin. Hazel enjoyed helping anyone that she could including her family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. She did not pass up anyone who needed her. She devoted herself to her nieces and nephews making sure they were ok and having fun with them.

Hazel loved reading, especially her Bible, the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, and all flowers. She liked to do crafts, make flower arrangements, enjoyed church singings, gospel music, and traveling. She was an amazing southern cook. She loved creating special dishes and desserts. She loved peppers and her food spicy.

Hazel was very loved by all who knew her, and she will be greatly missed.

Hazel is preceded in death by her parents, Truly Edward Free and Martha Lea Gates Free; husband, Joe Carl Franklin; brothers, T. J. Free, Edward Free, Mike Free; sisters, Virgie Lee, Reata Utz, Claudia Bacque; two nephews; and two nieces.

Left to cherish her memory is her son, Chad Franklin (Kristen); stepson, Chris Franklin (Christie); stepdaughter, Cindy Franklin; grandchildren, Parker Joseph Franklin, Ashley Procell, Peyton Franklin, Parker Franklin, Preston Franklin, Allyssa Hall, Kayla Hall, Branson Hall; and two great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, David Bacque; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Honoring Hazel as pallbearers will be Parker Franklin, Branson Hall, Kirk Lee, Franklin Utz, Michael Free, Jimmy Taylor, Robert Fuller, and Andrew Myers. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be David Bacque, Stanley Bacque, and Wade Free.

The family would like to give special thanks and appreciation to Dr. John Smith, Marie Baker, and the Staff of Healthplex Family Doctors; Doctors, Nurses, and the Staff at Christus Highland Hospital; Amanda, Victoria, and Staff at Centerwell Home Health; Staff at Fresenius Dialysis Center at Ashley Ridge; and nephew, Wade Free for transporting her to appointments and errands.