Flora (Flo) Scheuer Franklin (Florence Starr), 101, of Little Rock, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011. She was born June 28, 1910 in Eufala, AL to Helen Wolff Scheuer and Harry Scheuer. Raised in Montgomery, AL, she moved to Little Rock, AR in 1938 when she married her “Beau,” Henry “Bo” Franklin. Predeceased by her parents; brother Herbert Scheuer; and husband, she is survived by her daughters Joyce Franklin and Jane Franklin Goff (Robert); Grandchildren Amy Korenblat Russell (Chris); Ellen Korenblat Kramer (Luke); David Korenblat, all of Little Rock; Julie Weinstein Cohen; Alyson Weinstein Roach (Shane) all of Atlanta, GA; and great-grandchildren, Alexandra Abrams Spinks (Alex) of Fayetteville, AR and Forrest Abrams; Reid and Matthew Cohen; Emily and Courtney Roach; Henry and Tess Kramer.
Born Flora Wolff Scheuer in Eufala, AL, the family moved to Montgomery, AL when she was still young until her teen years. When still very young, around 5 years old, she was invited to entertain a family next door by singing. When she was finished an invited guest said, "Little girl, one day, you will be able to say you sang for William Jennings Bryan.” Mr. Bryan was the first of many.
In her early teen years, she went abroad to study voice in Venice, Italy and Paris, France. While living in London she sang a command performance for the King and Queen of England and their daughters Elizabeth and Margaret. She also sang a command performance in France for then Prince Hirohito who later became Emperor of Japan. She performed as a "singer" at the Casino de Paris and at Shahrazad in Paris singing songs such as "I've Told Every Little Star" and was called the "S’posin" girl. The headliner at the time was Josephine Baker, who became one of her mentors and friends. After leaving Europe in the early 30's, she went to Hollywood where she performed a voice-over for actress Heather Angel, in the movie, “The Mystery of Edward Drood.” From there, she sang on radio shows out of Chicago, and then to New York where she continued to perform and study voice.
She appeared in a Broadway show called "A Little Night Music" starring Archibald McLeach who later changed his name to Cary Grant. She also performed with a group called "The Royalists" for several years, auditioned for the voice of Snow White in the original animated Disney movie and sang on the radio show “Barnyard Serenade.”
She came to Arkansas in 1937 to accompany her mother to Hot Springs for a rest after her own father's death. There she met Henry Myar Franklin (Bo). They fell in love and within 6 weeks were married. She and Bo had two daughters, Joyce and Jane. Once in Little Rock, she performed yearly in the summer operas in McArthur Park, sang in churches and synagogues and was the soloist at Temple B’nai Israel. She also taught voice. Later, after Bo passed away in 1957, she became one of the first female real estate agents in the city and state. She sold real estate from the late 1950's until 1995 and was a member of the Little Rock Realtor’s Association for over 35 years and was a member of the Million Dollar Club. She was on the Women’s Emergency Committee to reopen the Little Rock Schools in 1958-59. She was also an antique doll collector and Life Master at the Little Rock Duplicate Bridge Club. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in her name to the Pulaski County Humane Society or a charity of choice.
A memorial service officiated by Rabbi Eugene Levy will be held Sunday, December 4, 2011 at 2 p.m. followed by a reception at Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.
