A sad goodbye...

Josh, Me, Matt, and Stuart in 2003

Last Monday night, 2/25, I received a call from UM (Stuart's Uncle Michael) who was pretty broken up. "Josh was killed in a car accident this afternoon" he said. I was in shock, thinking I did not hear him right and would not believe it. It was the first time I had lost a friend so close and I was unable to process it.

Josh Franklin was like a little brother to me and many people. His older brother, Stuart, and I were and still are great friends. The whole Franklin extended family is an entire second family to me and we have shared lots of good times and hard times together over the years. We all grew up in Decatur, went to Medlock Elem., then onto Druid Hills High with Stuart and Josh taking a short trip to Stone Mountain, then on to our various college careers until we all settled in separate places. Stuart settled in Albany, GA, Josh and Jack in St. Simon's, and me here in Atlanta. There are so many memories and stories that it is hard to know what I should mention here and what is the most significant.

Josh's funeral was a hard time for many people because it was so sudden. I was not prepared for it at all and fell apart completely. But I think if he were to tell us what we should do to honor his life, it would be to cherish the times you have with family and friends as he did. He was an honest man, happy, positive, very outgoing, and just genuine. There was no denying his honesty or genuine character in any situation. I admire Josh for this and for being just a great person I knew for many many years (i think we all met in 1984).

So for magnolia bud wars, crabapple wars, cops and robbers on bikes, Nintendo marathons after school, games of horse, the party shack, the cabin, athens, three-man at the cabin, Medlock park baseball, and all of the other times we all shared together, we are going to miss you Josh.

Josh's Obituary Here