Frank Layton, Jr.

Frank Layton, 91, of Chicago Illinois, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, and grandfather was born on January 4, 1932 in Alligator, Mississippi to proud parents, Bertha Williams and Frank Layton, Sr. The Layton family moved to the Winn Planation in Winterville, Mississippi; they were Sharecroppers, Frank and his sibling worked in the Fields chopping and picking cotton, and the famous Pecan Orchard.

Frank completed eighth grade and worked odd jobs to help support his family. As a young boy Frank worked with his brother John, aka Sonny, as a cook on one of the many boats sailing on the Delta; it could be said that’s where he developed a love for cooking; his gift and ability to season and cook food to perfection was well-known inside and outside the family.

Frank was also a master with numbers and could easily resolve an equation or percentages without calculator or pencil; he pursued and finished the high school equivalency test and earned a GED; this was a proud moment for him and his family.

Frank married the love of this life, Ellora Palmer on March 28, 1953, and moved to Chicago, Illinois to work and start their family. Frank worked many jobs to support his family, Appleton Electric, Seeburg Corporation and Zenith, where he retired. Frank worked the grave-yard shift while Ellora worked days as a LPN nurse; together they raised ten children; seven boys and three girls. Some nights the kids waited up hoping for a treat from Sammy’s Hot Dog Stand or on payday fried shrimp from the Fish House.

Frank loved his family, nothing he would not do for his kids and grandchildren. He enjoyed the visits from his sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, they shared many laugh reminiscing on past events that he, Hoppie and Creola encountered. When his cousin Leonard stopped by he could easily make him laugh when they strolled down memory lane revisiting the shenanigans, he and his brother Sonny got into at the Winn Planation.

Frank was a loyal and faithful member of Gospel Temple Missionary Baptist Church, and served on the Usher Board for over 15 years until his health started to decline. He enjoyed greeting members with his beautiful smile, passing out programs, and directing church guest to available seats. Frank received recognition from Gospel Temple in 1997 for Outstanding Achievement, Ability and Effort from the Usher Board; and because he displayed the steps of a good man ordered by the Lord, he was recognized as Man of the Year in July 2010.

Preceded in death; Mother, Bertha Layton; Father, Frank Layton, Sr.; twin sister, Bessie Layton; and brother John Layton (aka Sonny); the love of his life, and mother of his children, Ellora Layton; and sons, Barry Lloyd Layton, Frank Layton III, Maurice Layton, and Kenneth Layton.

Frank leaves to cherish his memory: Brother, Daniel Layton; sisters, Martha Smith, and Rosalee Carter; children, Dennis Layton, Denise Layton, Phillip Layton (Gail), Diane Campbell (Darryl), Steven Layton and Darlene Bradley (Leonard); grandchildren, Nicole Layton, Frank Layton IV, Keisha Layton, Tamara Layton, Deandra Layton, Tia Layton (Marlon), Ashley Marshbanks (Remington), Tyrenna Stockton, Chanese Layton, Leonard Bradley II, Allen Bradley; Maurita Layton, Candace Layton and Jamie Cobb; brothers-in-law, Percy Palmer (Debba) and Murphy Palmer (Joyce); sister-in-law, Creola Boyd; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

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