Hello, my name is Deborah P. Franklin and I am known as Dr. Graveyard. I am a sixth generation Texan and I am the fourth generation to live in our family 1875 Texas Historical Landmark house in Sunnyvale, Texas,  built by my great grandfather. I was appointed as an expert witness on African American burial traditions and grave decorations by the 40th District Court of Ellis County, TexasI was an original Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant for 31 years, visiting and documenting historic cemeteries across the United States and Europe. After retiring in 2002, I started my own cemetery business in 2004 named Dr. Graveyard/Franklin Graveyard Preservation. In 2004,  I completed classes in Hanover, Maryland at Cathedral Stone/Jahn Products to become a licensed installer of their products for restoring and cleaning museum quality tombstones. I was appointed by TexDot to submit names and locations of all historic sites and cemeteries in the east Dallas County area for their Dallas County maps.  I was appointed by Historic Mesquite Inc. to work with Greg Staples of the Texas Historical Commission, to document the historic cemeteries of the Mesquite, Balch Springs, Seagoville and Sunnyvale, Texas area. In 2014,  a Mississippi law firm hired me to teach Eagle Scouts how to restore an 18th century historic cemetery as well as teaching the young men about burial traditions, customs and symbolism of items.Since then, I now am available during the winter time to train Eagle Scouts how to restore historic cemeteries in order to get their Eagle Scout Rank. In 2015, The Texas Historical Commission has chosen me as one of the two people in the Dallas County area to help citizens when a cemetery is in trouble or needs direction of where to find family members. Since 1997, off and on, I have been a Director on the Historic Mesquite Inc. Board; I am appointed to the Sunnyvale, Texas  Animal Shelter Advisory Board; I am a charter member of the Hiram Bennett Daughters of the Republic of Texas organization; I am a member of the James Campbell  Daughters of the American Revolution organization; member of the Dallas County  

Dr. Graveyard and Dr. Graveyard Jr. talking about Paws Patrol Pet Rescue saving Tombstone and Marble   http://youtu.be/u2SUEUCpW90

Judy Yates

Photographer

 

 

Tombstone and Marble

Tombstone and Marble work with me in the cemeteries during the fall and winter months by carrying my equipment in Saddlebags as well as being protection for me. Both dogs were on “death row” because they were owner give up, which are the first to be euthanized if animal pound is full. My two loves were rescued by a wonderful Mesquite,Texas 501c3 rescue group called Paws Patrol Pet Rescue. Don’t purchase dogs from pet stores or puppy mills! Save a life and make a lifelong friendship by adopting from your local pound or rescue group.

Deborah Franklin “Dr. Graveyard”

President of Dr. Graveyard

E-mail Deborah Franklin “Dr. Graveyard”

Dr. Graveyard jr.

Judy Yates

Photographer

Tombstone and Marble

Tombstone and Marble work with me in the cemeteries during the fall and winter months by carrying my equipment in Saddlebags as well as being protection for me. Both dogs were on “death row” because they were owner give up, which are the first to be euthanized if animal pound is full. My two loves were rescued by a wonderful Mesquite,Texas 501c3 rescue group called Paws Patrol Pet Rescue. Don’t purchase dogs from pet stores or puppy mills! Save a life and make a lifelong friendship by adopting from your local pound or rescue group.