Kathryn (Franklin) Gruetter

Mrs. Kathryn Franklin Gruetter, 76, passed away peacefully at her ancestral family farm in Birdsville, Georgia, on Monday, April 28, 2025, following an extended illness.

She was cared for in her final days by her devoted younger sister Frances.

Born in Millen on April 18, 1949, Kathryn was the daughter of the late Mary Perkins Franklin and Ben Franklin, Jr. She grew up on the family farm at Birdsville and was a member of Fair Haven Methodist Church. She started first grade in Midville, GA, riding to school with her mother who was teaching high school there. After several years she transferred to school in Millen, graduating from Jenkins County High School in 1967.

Kathryn attended the University of Georgia where she met her husband Neal and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design. After she and Neal married in 1970, they spent the rest of their lives in the Athens area. Before making full use of her college degree Kathryn was a cook at T.K. Harty’s Saloon in Athens where her chili was legendary. She was an assistant cafeteria manager at Snelling Dining Hall on the UGA campus, and she taught art for two years at Oglethorpe County High School. She went on to become an exceptional and sought-after interior designer, leaving her mark on countless homes in the Athens area.

She had a keen eye, a chic sense of style, and an unwavering attention to detail—even in her final days, she could not resist having her sister straighten a crooked lampshade or picture frame. Kitchens were her specialty, a natural extension of her talent for cooking with fresh vegetables from the thoughtfully designed garden on their Oglethorpe County property. Kathryn’s talents were multidimensional, and she was very much a DIY person. Not only did she do the designing in people’s homes she often did much of the painting and wallpapering herself. When she and her husband built their own house in the 70’s, Kathryn was often seen on a ladder with her own hammer.

A gracious host, Kathryn loved to entertain and knew how to throw a good party. She was as at home on the water as she was in the kitchen. In her younger years she spent many happy hours during the summer swimming at McKinney’s Pond and Magnolia Springs State Park or going with her family between Dallas Bluff and Blackbeard Island on the Georgia coast boating, fishing and crabbing. An avid water skier, she also enjoyed camping at Lake Hartwell with her family and friends. She found joy in the salt air and rhythm of Pawleys Island, where she would dance the night away doing the Pawleys Island shuffle with her fellow PICNYC friends. Kathryn was also a gifted and award-winning floral designer and flower judge and was a member for many years of the oldest garden club in the country, the Ladies Garden Club of Athens.

Kathryn was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years Ernest Neal Gruetter, parents Mary Perkins Franklin and Ben Franklin Jr. of Birdsville, grandparents Diana Perkins Taylor and Ira Perkins of Millen, Bessie Jones Franklin and Ben Franklin, Sr. of Birdsville, and brother Ben Franklin III of Birdsville. Sister Mary Franklin Andrew of Birdsville passed away just one day after Kathryn.

She is survived by her sister Frances Franklin Winslow (Geoffrey) of Berkeley Lake, brother-in-law Dan Gruetter (Cathy) of Watkinsville, and her beloved nieces and nephews: Franklin Andrew of Augusta, Bess Andrew Thomas of Lexington, SC, Katie Winslow of Berkeley Lake, Angie Winslow of Topanga, CA, Derek Winslow of Vancouver, BC, Matthew Gruetter of Athens and Katie Gruetter Stephens of Athens. She also leaves behind many special and life long friends, including neighbor Jane Bowen whose unselfish gift of a kidney extended Kathryn’s life by many years, and last but not least her faithful little canine companion Bessie.

The family would like to thank Regency SouthernCare Hospice and caregivers Rosa Anderson and Nell Lovett for their compassionate assistance in caring for Kathryn during her last several months of life.

A memorial service for Kathryn will be at 3:00 pm on May 21st, Fair Haven Methodist Church

1126 N Herndon Rd, Millen GA 30442, the Reverend Jose Velasquez officiating. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Fair Haven Methodist Church, P O Box 1096, Millen GA 30442.

Condolences may be expressed at www.chapmanfhofswainsboro.com.

Chapman Funeral Home of Swainsboro is in charge of the arrangements for Mrs. Kathryn Franklin Gruetter, 76, of Millen.