Franklin Family
Benton and Sarah Margret Franklin were long time residents of Burke who lived directly across from Burke Baptist Church and not far from the old post office.
The had four chidren:
- Lillian, who married Glenn Armstrong.
- Nila Joyce, who married a Boddie
- Sadie, who married J. T. Jones
- John Ernest who married Bonnie Nell Thigpen
Lillian and Glenn Armstrong have operated House of Photography & Sound (HOP&S) at the corner of First and Frank Streets in Lufkin for over 30 years. Prior to HOP&S, Mr. Armstrong worked for KTRE-TV as Production Manager and On Camera Director and for several other television stations in Texas before KTRE.
In the late 1950s they built a home in Burke directly east of Burke School. Their house was only a long fly ball from the school ball field, although the author does not recall any damage caused by the young baseball players. Certainly the author could not hit well enough to hit a ball that far.
J. T. and Sadie Jones live in a home in south Burke between Highway 59 and the Old Houston Highway. For a time they operated a water park near their home on Highway 59. J. T. is the son of a minister who serve Burke Baptist Church in the late 1950s.
Benton Franklin's sister Roberta married Willard Forsythe, the author's great-grand uncle.
Sources:
- Lillian Franklin Armstrong, Personal Recollections
- M. Lee Murrah, Personal Recollections