On the day Sam Franklin would have turned 55, his dad and about two dozen co-workers and friends gathered at Liberty Baptist Church in Winston, Georgia to honor him. After the service, they shared barbecue, cheesecake with strawberries (Sam's favorite) and memories on the back porch of the home where Sam lived with his father, Bernell Franklin.

Less than a week before—on Monday, July 27, 2026—Sam died unexpectedly at home. He was born to Samuel Bernell Franklin, Sr. and the late Shirley Garrett Franklin on August 2, 1971, at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. He grew up an only child in Mableton and later in Lithia Springs. As a child, Sam played little league baseball, rode dirt bikes and occasionally accompanied his dad to The Westminster Schools, where Bernell worked. There, Sam enjoyed riding the tractor and doing chores with his dad and then cooling off in the pool. Sam loved Christmas and he and his mother, Shirley, would always get a big tree and decorate it with all sorts of ornaments. This special Christmas tradition started when Sam was a child and continued through his adulthood.

For 15 years after high school, Sam split his time between Florida and Colorado. In Florida he earned his Captain's License and operated a parasail boat; later, he earned his Heavy Captain's License to pull big rigs and large ships. When in Colorado, Sam spent his time in Breckenridge where he excelled at downhill and cross-country skiing. Between his time in Florida and Colorado, Sam always made the effort to come home and spend time with his parents. During these visits, he enjoyed helping his dad at the family grading construction business that Bernell had established.

In 2000, Sam moved back to Atlanta where he was able to spend precious time with his parents and later began working with his dad at the Atlanta Polo fields. It was there that he really found his footing. He and his dad were a "dynamic duo" tackling any-and-all projects on the farm, taking care of the horses, maintaining the grounds and ensuring that everything was operating in an orderly and efficient way. The father and son duo—family, best buddies and workmates—never missed lunch together whether at Jack's New Yorker Deli, St. Angelo's Pizza or Burger Crush.

"Sambo" as his dad called him, was an expert behind the wheel of a backhoe, tractor, and dump truck. He learned everything he knew about machinery and the Polo Farm from his dad, Bernell, who he looked up to as a mentor and hero. There was no farm task that Sam couldn't or wouldn't do: he took care of the polo field and the practice field, he regularly seeded and mowed the pastures, he built and re-built fence, he cleared trails, he built stalls and he delivered countless hay bales and water buckets to the horses. Sam was truly a jack-of-all-trades and never backed down from a challenge or taxing task. Sam was generous with his time and abilities, he was always willing to help those in need, and he always selflessly looked out for others—humans and animals.

Off the farm, Sam enjoyed spending time with family in Alabama, sky diving, skeet shooting and driving his 2023 Ford Mustang Mach 1 coupe. Sam was kind and thoughtful, and though quiet, he had a wonderful sense of humor and was quick to make a joke with a big smile on his face. Sam was very much a patriot and a long-time member of Liberty Road Baptist Church in Winston, Georgia.

Sam is survived by his father, Bernell Franklin Sr., aunts Yvonne Johnson and Judy Sexton and uncle, Durell Franklin. He has cousins on both sides of the family who will miss him. Bernell will always remember how Sam loved music, particularly Roger Miller singing "Me and Bobby McGee", with one line that is especially poignant to Bernell: "I'd trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday".

There will be a celebration of Sam's life at Liberty Baptist Church (5630 Liberty Church Road, Winston, GA 30187) on Tuesday, August 11th at 1pm with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Liberty Baptist Church.