Maxine Franklin

Franklin Maxine Franklin, 64 passed away peacefully after a five year battle with breast cancer on Monday, November 12, 2012 at St. Luke's Hospital In Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Maxine was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on December 17, 1947, to John and Ethle Mae (Turner) Guy. Her family transitioned from country life to city life in 1962; moving from Shreveport, Louisiana to Oakland, California. She married Michael Romero Means In 1965 and over a period of eight years, they had four daughters. Maxine and Michael were divorced in the early 70's, she never remarried but her partner Judge C. Purifoy assisted her in raising her girls for over ten years. Maxine lived in several states including Colorado, Arizona, California and Wisconsin but in her last year she resided with her daughter in Franklin, Wisconsin. Maxine was the first in her family to attend college; she received her degree from Laney Jr. College and she completed two years of law school at Golden Gate Law School in San Francisco. She was appointed to the Oakland Police Department (OPD) in 1975 and was the first African-American female to be assigned to the street. After several years of services with the OPD she became an undercover narcotics agent. In 1983 she injured her wrist and after her surgery she was assigned to desk duties. She was no longer able to work in the field and therefore, decided to resign from the OPD. After she resigned from the OPD she worked several years for the Contra Costa County Sherriff's Department. She resigned from the Sherriff's Department to begin her own business; she was the founder of the Montessori School of Oakland as well as the founder/owner of Milwaukee School of Arts located in Wisconsin. Maxine will be remembered for her generous and unselfish spirit, her simplicity, her steadfastness and sacrifice in regard to her family, her good sense of humor and the great gift of being able to give without receiving. She was always supportive of and engaged in any academic endeavor her children and grandchildren pursued. If physically able, she was always in attendance at their school programs, sports competitions, music recitals and honor ceremonies. She was a wonderful mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, greatgrandmother, family relative and friend. She was deeply loved, and she will be sorely missed. She was preceded in death by her parents; Ethle Mae Turner and John Guy, her ex-husband's son; Michael Romero Means, her brothers; Sherman Lee Gant (Joe), William Lee Powell(James), and Thomas Ray Franklin as well as her grandson; Jeremy Lance Wadlington. Maxine is survived by her ex husband; Michael Romero Means and his son Robert Means, her daughters; Lisa (Means) Wadlington & son in law Kenneth Wadlington, Marian (Means) Harris, Trina(Means) Zazueta & son in law Ernest Richard Zazueta, and Angela Means, her brothers; William Gant(Lightning), Freddie Delton, and Donald Ray, her sisters; Johnnie Faye (Franklin) McClenton, Emma Jean (Franklin) Brown, Gloria Jean Brokenberry, Marion J Robinson, Johnnie Ruth Cox and Linda Lee Fortune, her grandchildren; Kenneth E Wadlington Jr., Megan Wadlington, Crystal Paige McCrary, Thomas Joseph Harris, Joshua Austin Harris, Ernest Richard Zazueta Jr., Eriq Zazueta, Bailey Zazueta, and Edwin Zazueta, her great- grandson; Jeremy Isaiah Moy; as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Maxine's daughters would like to express their gratitude to all the family and friends whose prayer's and contributions helped make Maxine's memorial service possible. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Maxine's cousin; Bessie Harris of Texas , her granddaughter Megan Wadlington of Wisconsin, her niece Lola Rhodes of Georgia, her aunt Birdia M Hunt of California, her cousin Tammy Portia (Hunt) Jacobs of California , family friends; Lisa Gellings and her husband Arlen of Wisconsin and family friend Deanne Pick of Wisconsin . Services will be held at Hales Corners Lutheran Church, 12300 West Janesville Road, Hales Corners, WI 53130. Visitation from 11:00am- 1:00pm followed by a prayer service at 1:00 p.m Interment services will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park, 4775 S 60th St., Greenfield, WI 53220. At the conclusion of the services, family and friends are welcome to join Maxine's family at the Zazueta home, 7715 W Briarwood Drive Franklin, WI 53132 for food and the celebration of Maxine's life. . Max A. Sass and Sons Funeral and Cremation Service Mission Hills Directors 414-427-0707