Milton L. (Coach) Franklin

Milton Laverne Franklin was born on September 18, 1927, in Gorgas, Alabama, to James and Bennie Lee Allen Franklin. He was the fourth of eleven children. During his youth, the family relocated to Jasper, Alabama, where he graduated from Walker County Training School before enrolling at Alabama A&M University. There, he earned his degree in 1950 and became a founding member of the Gamma Phi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Following graduation, Milton began what would become a lifelong calling of educating and mentoring young people. At Reedtown High School in Russellville, Alabama, he coached football and basketball for both boys and girls and quickly became known simply as "Coach Franklin." It was also there that he met the love of his life, Ida Tiggs. Their courtship was briefly interrupted by his service in the United States Army, but after completing two years of military service, the couple married on November 26, 1955. Together they shared seventy years of unwavering love, partnership, and devotion.

In 1956, Coach Franklin accepted a position at Sterling High School in Sheffield, where he taught while coaching basketball, football, and track. When Sterling High School closed in 1968 during the integration of Alabama's public schools, he transitioned to Sheffield High School. Though he acknowledged that integration was a difficult experience for many students, he often credited the relationships he had already built throughout the community for easing the transition. Those relationships became the hallmark of his career.

In 1971, Coach Franklin made history as the first Black head basketball coach in the Shoals area. Throughout his distinguished career, he dedicated himself to helping young people discover not only how to compete, but how to lead. Whether in the classroom, on the athletic field, or in the hallways of Sheffield High School, he expected excellence, modeled integrity, and encouraged every student to believe they were capable of more than they imagined. To generations of students and athletes, he was far more than a teacher or coach – he was a mentor, a steady presence, and a trusted source of wisdom whose influence extended far beyond graduation. His impact was so enduring that the Sheffield High School gymnasium was later named in his honor.

Faith was the cornerstone of Milton's life. A devoted member of First Missionary Baptist Church of Sheffield, he faithfully served for decades as a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, and a Male Chorus and Mass Choir member. He quietly lived his faith each day, offering encouragement, sharing God's Word, and serving others with humility, compassion, and consistency.

His generosity reached well beyond the classroom and church. Whether tending one of his many gardens, casting a fishing line, or simply checking on a neighbor, Milton found joy in giving. Friends and neighbors often received baskets of fresh vegetables from his garden or fish from a successful day on the water. If someone needed help, he rarely waited to be asked.

His commitment to serving others continued throughout the community. He served as Chairman of the Sheffield Recreation Board for eighteen years, was a member of the Colbert County Extension Advisory Board and the North Alabama Head Start Advisory Council, volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and faithfully worked the polls during elections for many years. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, he was inducted into the Alabama A&M Athletic Hall of Fame, the Colbert County Sports Hall of Fame, the Walker County Sports Hall of Fame, the Sheffield Education Foundation Registry of Honor, and was named Citizen of the Year by the Kiwanis Club.  He was also a 33rd-degree Scottish Rite Mason and member of Ensley Rising Star Lodge, No. 47 F&AM.

While these honors reflected the respect he earned throughout the Shoals, they were never what mattered most to him. His greatest legacy lives on through his family and in the thousands of lives he touched – with a kind word, a lesson, a helping hand, or the quiet example of a life devoted to God, family, education, and service. Those who knew Milton Franklin will remember not only what he accomplished, but how he made people feel: valued, encouraged, and loved.

On Thursday, July 30, 2026, at the age of 98, Milton Laverne Franklin was called to his eternal home.

He is survived by his wife, Ida Tiggs Franklin; his two children Lenita Phillips and Byron (Meriam) Franklin; six grandchildren, Leah Smith, Byron Franklin, Jr., Kelsie Franklin, Ida McKenna (Gevon) Phillips, Brandon Franklin, and Bradley Franklin; and a host of nieces and nephews.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Milton L. (Coach) Franklin, please visit our floral store.