Duke N. Franklin, age 45, of Murfreesboro, TN, formerly of Clarksville, TN passed away Friday, May 31st 2013. A native of Dixon, IL he was preceded in death by his father, Richard Franklin. Funeral services will be at Woodfin Funeral Chapel in Smyrna, TN at 12:00 Noon on Wednesday. Brother Ron Caldwell will officiate. A graveside service will follow at Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery at 2:00PM with full military honors. Mr. Franklin is survived by his loving wife, Rhonda K. Franklin; sons, Duke N. Franklin Jr. of Murfreesboro and Ryan Franklin of Beecher, IL; mother, Barbara Meiners and her husband Merle of Hot Springs, AR; sisters, Teresa Johnson and her husband Dave of Lakeland, FL and Elisabeth Sparks and her husband Eric of Woodstock, GA; brother, Luke R. Franklin of Madison, WI; step-daughter, Rebecca Hanners and her husband Brian of Kankakee,IL; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Mr. Franklin was a United States Army Veteran for 12 years having served tours in Panama and Bosnia. He was a 1986 graduate of Dixon High School in Dixon IL. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree from Austin Peay State University in 2012. He loved playing golf and was an avid fan of Duke Basketball, the Chicago Bears, Notre Dame Football and the New York Yankees. He was much loved and will be greatly missed. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Melanoma Research Foundation. (Melanoma Research Foundation, P.O. Box 759329, Baltimore, MD 21275) Visitation with the family will be at Woodfin Funeral Chapel in Smyrna, TN on Tuesday from 4:00PM to 8:00PM. 615-459-3254 Online condolences can be made at www.woodfinchapel.com