Martina Franklin

Martina Franklin

February 12, 1921 – May 4, 2025

Martina Franklin passed away in Socorro, New Mexico, Sunday, May 4, 2025, of natural causes. She was 104 years old. She was born February 12, 1921.

Martina’s parents were José Brazil and Maria (Espinosa) Brazil. Her father was a sheep and cattle rancher who came to the US in 1903 from the Azores Islands of Portugal. Her mother was a school teacher born in Carnero, Colorado, but whose roots were in El Rito, New Mexico. She was the middle child of five, having three sisters and one brother.

Martina was born in Willard, NM, but grew up in Scholle, NM. Scholle was located immediately south of US 60 just before the Socorro-Torrance county line. Its adobe houses have since melted away and the rock buildings are mostly collapsed, but she always described Scholle as the most beautiful place on earth. It was a small close knit community established at the turn of the 19th century and served the surrounding ranches but was founded primarily to refill the water tanks of the steam locomotives that had climbed out of the Rio Grande river valley through Abo Canyon. For Martina, Scholle always retained that beauty that is associated with happy childhood memories.

Martina attended school in a one-room schoolhouse where her mother was the teacher. She went on to graduate from Mountainair High School in 1939 and attended the University of New Mexico for two years. Because of the depression she left UNM in 1941 and took a job with the state welfare department as a caseworker in Socorro, NM. This would begin a 45-year career in which she specialized in adult and child protective services.

In 1943 she married Dr. V.E. Franklin whom she had met at a business lunch with her boss Jessie Payne. They were married 46 years until his death in 1989. Together they raised two children, giving them great love and support.

Martina was a faith filled person who loved her family and went to every family function she could. She loved to “go places,” to be with friends, and to make new friends—particularly over a cup of coffee. She loved to travel, even if most of it was in an armchair, but that was just fine. And she loved to read.

Martina was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sisters Belina and Marie, her brother Joe J, and her step-daughter Frances Pender as well as Frances’ husband Jim Pender with whom she got along famously. She is survived by her sister Marcela, her sons Joe and wife Mary, and John and wife Barbara. She is also survived by Frances and Jim’s three children, Jim Pender, Mark Pender and Rob Pender (Katie) as well as grandchildren, Alex Franklin, Abby Valentine (Nick), Jordan Franklin (Jessica), Mackenzie Franklin (Ariana), Claire Elwell (Brandon), Rheese Franklin, and Jasmine Franklin. She is also survived by Mark Pender’s sons Mitchell and Kevin, Rob and Katie’s daughters Emily and Kara, Abby and Nick’s sons Ansel and Amos, and Mackenzie and Ariana’s son Enzo.

Our family would like to express our eternal gratitude to Rose Benavidez for all the care she gave Martina with so much love and kindness.

A Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 PM, Thursday, May 22, 2025 at San Miguel Church in Socorro, NM. The Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 AM, Friday, May 23, 2025 at San Miguel Church in Socorro, NM. Interment will be in Our Lady of Sorrows graveyard, Manzano, NM.