Franklin Lawrence Campbell's Obituary
Franklin Lawrence Campbell, 40, left this earth to be with the Lord at noon on Easter Sunday. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at Centennial United Methodist Church in Kansas City, MO at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM -11:00 AM on Saturday at the Church. Masks are required by the church during the visitation and service.
Franklin was born Aug. 19, 1982 in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Ninette and Frank Campbell.
He fought illness nearly his entire life. Pneumonia at age 1. Spinal Meningitis at age 4. Bone marrow transplant at age 7. Colon cancer at age 39. He battled each illness relentlessly. Franklin’s mantra was “Not built for show, built to last”. His oncology nurse liked that so much, she wrote it on the board in the nurse’s office.
Franklin became a member of Centennial United Methodist Church at an early age. He played drums under the tutelage of William Robersone, sang in the Angel choir and traveled to California with other teenagers to the BMCR conference.
He graduated from Archbishop O’hara High school. He then attended Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo. earning his Bachelors of Science degree in Communication/Video Production.
Franklin was initiated into Iota Phi Theta Fraternity on the collegiate level on the campus of Missouri Western State University. Among his brothers he was known as “Infinite Juice”.
Franklin loved cars. As a child he built model cars, winning ribbons at the Worlds of Wheels show at Bartle Hall. People requested him to build models of their actual car. As an adult he purchased his prize possession “the Black Mamba”. A black on black Mustang GT 5.0 with a V8 engine. You could hear him coming a block away. He was a member of the KC Street Mob Car Club.
He worked at Ford Motor Company for 8 years on the F150 truck line. He took great pride in his job and hated missing a day at work. He would take his chemo treatment, rest, then work all night.
Franklin’s other interest was video production and editing. He had a side business of filming and editing events.
He loved kids and had many godchildren.
He met his love, Chelsea December Rose, late in his life. He wished they had more time together. His eyes lit up every time she entered his hospital room.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Lillie Mae Campbell.
Mourning his passing are his parents, Ninette and Frank Campbell, brother Phillip Campbell, maternal grandparents Etta Mae and George Webb, maternal aunt Estelle May, girlfriend Chelsea Rose, many special aunts, uncles, cousins, close friends and his pup, Zora.
Special thank you to Angie and Phillip Washington, and Markesia and Mark Tatum for taking care of things here in Kansas City while Franklin was hospitalized in St. Louis for 3 months.
While it is so hard to say goodbye, it is such a relief to know he is no longer struggling. Save us a spot Franklin. We’ll see you again!!!
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