The late Mr. Franklin Delano Wilson was born in Thornton, Arkansas; Quachita County on November 8, 1936 to the late Mr. Walter Wilson and Ms. Isabell Thrower Wilson (Land).  

Franklin joined Oak Grove Baptist Church of Thornton, Arkansas at an early age. He attended Calhoun County Training School which was a K through 12 school. Franklin left school to cut timber in Arkansas. He is believed to have worked at the Fordyce or Thorton Saw Mill.   

On April 3, 1955, Franklin united in holy matrimony to Miss Mamie Thelma Lee Ross in Thornton, Arkansas. To this union three children were born Franklin, Rachel, and Wanda. Wanda preceded him in death.  

Upon the death of their daughter Wanda and searching for a better life, Franklin and Mamie joined the great migration to the North. In 1958 they left their small rural community in Arkansas and relocated to the thriving metropolis known as Detroit, Michigan, the Motor City.

Franklin found work at Dexter Davison Market and worked there for many years. They were blessed with an additional seven children; Linda, Patricia, Jacqueline, Jeffrey, Bettye, Bonnie, and Dwayne.

In the 1972 Franklin left Detroit Michigan and went back home to Arkansas where he lived with his mother until her death. Franklin and Mamie divorced on 10 May 1974 after 19 years of marriage. Franklin moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and lived there for 10 years before returning to Detroit several years later. 

He departed this life on Monday November 4, 1991 in Detroit, Michigan at the young age of 54.