NADINE FRANKLIN

Nadine Thompson was born on December 9, 1934, to Minnie Thompson and Willie Mack Borgus, Sr. in Pulaski, Tennessee. She was raised by her mother Minnie and stepfather Felix Cross.

Nadine was raised with a Spiritual upbringing with both parents ministers of the Gospel in the Presbyterian faith. Under the teaching of her mother, she was baptized at an early age at Dixon Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Pulaski, Tennessee. Throughout Nadine’s life she explored the teachings of different denominations and was later baptized at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, where she served as an usher, and under the teaching of the late Brother Ervin Dinkins, she was also baptized at Fall Creek Parkway Church of Christ both in Indianapolis. Whether she found a certain denomination, one thing for sure, she sought the Scriptures, studied her Bible regularly and had a personal relationship with God who she affectingly called “Daddy.” Nadine definitely gave a new definition to the phrase, “Covered by the Blood.” No matter the struggles Nadine faced in life and she had many. She displayed exemplary faith and trust in the Lord and believed He loved her just as she was.

Nadine attended Bridge Forth, Giles County School in Pulaski, Tennessee. She dropped out of school at an early age when she met and married Eugene Sloan who was the lead singer of a traveling Gospel Group and followed him to Indianapolis, Indiana where she made her home. No children were born to this union.

On a warm summer day, Nadine spotted a decorated Marine with spit shined shoes walking up the street. He was fresh out of the U. S. Military and home to visit his mother. Nadine saw Stars and vowed to make the stunning Corporal her husband. That solider was Robert Franklin, who not only married her with five children, he also loved and raised them all as his own. Robert and Nadine were united in holy matrimony on July 13, 1969, and to their union two sons, Carl and Gary Franklin, were born. Nadine and Robert were married until his passing.

Nadine held several jobs over her lifetime which included working for Haag Drug Store, Wishard Memorial Hospital in Central Services and housekeeping for the Federal Building. She was a lady of leisure at the time of her departure.

In her “hay days” Nadine loved to dance and party and looked forward to listening to ole school jams, fish fries and playing cards on Friday nights. She also loved gardening, listening to her music, bird watching and BET. 

Nadine was a devoted mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great and great-great grandmother. One thing you knew for sure is that she “Loved” her children and offspring who meant the world to her. Everyone loved “NaNa”!

Nadine departed this life on Monday, July 13, 2026, peacefully in her home at Bloom at Eagle Creek at the age of ninety-one years seven months and fifty-one days. Nadine was preceded in death by her husband, Robert     Franklin; parents, Minnie and Felix Cross, and Willie Mack Borgus, Sr.; siblings, James Cross, Cecil Cross, Myrtle Hastings, and Maurice Bogus; a loving uncle who she cherished, Joe Thomas, and beloved children, Terry “Bobby” Bell, Keith Newson and Valerie Johnson.

Nadine leaves to cherish her loving memory, her children: Steve Sloan (Sue), Andy Sloan, Dennis Abernathy (Loretta), Frank Sloan (Ann), Carlene Heeter (Kevin), Jeffery Newson, Carl Franklin (Michele), Gary Franklin (Lakesha), a devoted adopted son, Henry Henderson; siblings: Phyllis Marie Hardison (Kenneth); Delmas Bogus and Maxine Adams and a host of nieces, nephews, grand, great, great-great grandchildren a host of family and friends.

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