Sherman Franklin Brinner, Jr.

Sherman Franklin Brinner, Jr., known as “Franklin” to his friends and family, passed away August 22, 2024 at his home in Mount Washington, Kentucky. Born May 27, 1952, to Dorothy Southard and Sherman Brinner, Franklin was known for his love of flowers and his open and friendly demeanor.  Franklin’s early years were spent in Lebanon Junction, Kentucky. He grew up with his sister, Gloria, surrounded by cousins and extended family. A graduate of Lebanon Junction High School in 1970, he attended Elizabethtown Community College for some time prior to moving to Louisville, Kentucky, to work in the floral industry.  Franklin’s professional journey put him in touch with floral artists around the world. He began his career with Korfhage Florist and Nursery, eventually moving on to Nanz & Kraft Florists and then finally to In Bloom Again, where he worked until his retirement. He attained distinctions as a Kentucky Master Florist, a Certified Floral Designer, and was an accredited member of the American Institute of Floral Designers. Over the course of his career, he served as president of the Kentucky Floral Association and as a Kentucky representative to the Teleflora Board, sat on the board of the Southern Retail Association, and held a board position with the Southern Chapter of the AIFD.  In 1975, Franklin married the love of his life, Jonda Rice, and together they built a family and home filled with love. Their union was blessed with two children, Benjamin and Christopher. Franklin loved his family dearly and was delighted to see it grow to include Christopher’s wife, Katie, and their three beautiful daughters, Olivia, Amelia, and Scarlett. Franklin was a member of Okolona Christian Church.  He served his God and church through service as a deacon, teaching preschool children and visiting shut-ins. This work gave him an opportunity to put his faith into action and a place to share his talents, as he routinely provided the sick and elderly he visited with flowers to brighten their days. Franklin was predeceased by his parents and his sister. His memory will be cherished and kept alive by his wife, sons, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. His absence will also be profoundly felt by a community of friends and colleagues who respected and admired him. Visitation for Franklin will be held at the McFarland-Troutman-Proffitt Funeral Home in Mount Washington, Kentucky, on Sunday, August 25, 2024 from 5-7 p.m. There will be a private family graveside service the following day.  Floral tributes are welcome, but the family suggests that friends consider buying a flower, bouquet, or arrangement from a local florist to be given to someone they love in memory of Franklin. He would have appreciated his life being honored by the spreading of love through flowers to the larger community. He will be deeply missed, but the memories he created will be a comfort to all of us who knew him. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sherman Franklin Brinner, Jr., please visit our floral store.