Betty Jean Martin

Funeral services for Betty Jean Franklin Martin, age 96 of Ruston, are scheduled for 10:00 AM, Monday, November 9, 2026 at Cook Baptist Church in Ruston with Rev. Kevin Daniel and Teresa Daniel officiating. Burial will follow in Vienna Cemetery near Ruston under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.

Betty Jean was born on May 9, 1930 in Mineral Springs to the union of John Walter Franklin and Velma Rose Howard Franklin. She passed away November 4, 2026 in Ruston. She graduated from high school in 1947 and went to Cosmetology School in Shreveport. From 1947-1949, she worked at Ms. Frasier’s Beauty Shop. From 1949 until 1956, Betty Jean worked for the telephone company as an operator in Ruston. If you were on the company line during that time, she probably listened to your conversation. She was co-owner of Tropical Tan in Ruston from 1984 through 1989.

Betty Jean married Leonard Hamilton Martin on August 21, 1952 at home in Mineral Springs. They resided in Ruston until 1957 where sons Bill and Scott were born. They then move to Winnsboro, LA where sons Phillip and Steve were born. In 1962 they moved to Greensburg, LA and Stacey was born. They moved back to Winnsboro in 1968, then to West Monroe in 1975 and finally to Ruston in 1988 where she remained the rest of her life.

Betty Jean was always a devoted Christian and attended church regularly. She was baptized at the age of nine at Mineral Springs Baptist Church near Dubach. She was a member of Cook Baptist Church from 1988 until her death. In 1989 she became a member of the Piece-Makers Quilting Club in Vienna. There she helped make over 100 quilts. They met every Wednesday for the whole day. The ladies would bring pot-luck for lunch. At noon, people in the community, mostly men, would come to eat. Betty Jean was always known for her delicious chocolate pies and banana pudding. After lunch they would quilt again until about 4:00. She loved her quilting and was a member of the club for 32 years. The Piece-Makers ended in 2020. She continued quilting at home and made quilts for all of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great-grandchildren for a total of 56 quilts.

Betty Jean loved to travel, especially with her sister Doyce Ann Britt and sister-in-law, Pete Franklin. She was able to travel all over the United States and several countries with her family. Places she visited included Alaska, New Mexico, Missouri, England, Texas, Arkansas, Jamaica, France, Florida, Tennessee, California, Italy and Arizona. She also loved to watch the birds feeding on her front porch where she always had feed out for them.

Betty Jean was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, two brothers: Albert “Bully” Franklin and John Walter “J. W.” Franklin; sister Doyce Britt; two brothers-in-law: William “Bill” Martin and Max Britt; two sisters-in-law: Betty Franklin and Betty Ruth James; granddaughter Sara June Martin; two great grandsons: James Wyatt Martin and Robert Hamilton Martin; and two daughters-in-law: Sandra Martin and Frances Martin.

Betty Jean is survived by her five sons: John “Bill” Martin and wife Vicki of Ruston, Scott Martin and wife Claudia of Ruston, Phillip Martin of Hot Springs, Steve Martin and wife Becky of West Monroe and Stacey Martin and wife Dondra of West Monroe; 17 grandchildren: Billy Martin and wife Amanda of Palm City, FL, Dusty Martin and wife Brittany of West Monroe, LA. Geoff Martin and wife Hannah of Simsboro, LA, Mandi Martin of Ruston, LA, Mary and husband Ryan Walsh of Slidell, LA, Melea and husband Derek Shields of Jonesboro, LA, Melissa Herrington of Hot Springs, AR, Lyndsey and husband Justin Harwood of Hot Springs, AR, Julie and husband Marcus Dyson of Benton, AR, Katelynn and husband Caleb Dwyer of Hot Springs, AR, Jeremy Martin and wife Anna, Alisha Martin, Kelly and husband Drew Shaver, Kyle Martin, Grant Martin and Taylor Martin, all of West Monroe, LA; 29 great grandchildren; five great great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law: Celeste “Pete” Franklin, Chris Martin and Mary Dugdale; two brothers-in-law: James Dugdale and Ted James; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be grandsons Billy Martin, Dusty Martin, Geoff Martin, Jeremy Martin, Kyle Martin, Grant Martin and Taylor Martin.

The family would like to thank everyone for their prayers, calls, texts and visits. They especially want to thank the care givers who have taken such loving care of her for the last year: Mandi Martin, Anitra Owens, Roetta Jarmon, Rhonda Jumper, Penny Parnell, Wendy Ivy, Paula Knight and Theresa Soto.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM, Sunday, November 8, 2026 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com