Dear Editor: I am honoring Ocie Franklin, a notable citizen of Covington who gave life-extending help to a down-trodden person for over five years. She showed love and mercy to him when he was without hope by taking him into her meager home. This was a time in his life when most others had ignored his problems — homelessness, alcohol, physical ailments and maybe others. Ocie did this by first taking him to her church, St. Paul A.M.E. on Stone Mountain Street. Here he was received with dignity and love by the pastors and membership. Ocie always told him that God loved and cared for him.

 Ocie found suitable housing for him on Clark Street where he could walk with his bicycle as a support system. He often pushed his bicycle all over town due to his ailing body. He had done lots of physical work beginning in childhood where he worked with his father who was a share-cropper. As a young adult he worked with a company where he hoisted and moved pianos and organs. He later worked for Williams Brothers here in Covington.

 Ocie, who saw promise in him, is to be commended for reaching out to him and never faltering in directing him on the correct path. She never forgot the he too was a human being.

 Much later this year, he was stricken and hospitalized. He was taken to the healthcare center on West Street in Covington. He received excellent care until his demise on April 13. He is buried in Covington.

 Ocie was there until the end. She showed love, honor and respect throughout her caring for him. His name was Pete. She will always be etched in my memory as a gentle spirit who has made a difference in a person’s life as
he lived and died.

Emogene Williams

Covington