Franklin Delano Basnight

Franklin Delano Basnight died on Sunday July 7, 2019 in Depaul Hospital, Norfolk. Franklin Delano Basnight, affectionately known as “Frankie J.” was born on December 21, 1959.  He was born in Portsmouth, Virginia to his mother Rebecca C. Elliott and his father the late, Willie Basnight.

As a child “Frank” moved to Norfolk, Virginia where he spent most of his childhood through his early adulthood.  He attended Norfolk Public Schools and was a student at Lake Taylor High School.  After attending Lake Taylor, he became an employee for the shipyard located in Norfolk, Virginia.  He worked at the shipyard for many years before he became a longshoreman for Norfolk International Terminal in 1999.  As time went on, “Frank” later became an entrepreneur.  He was known for marketing clothes, accessories, and fragrance oils.  He named his business “Basnight Enterprises”.  “Frank” was very smart and had a gift of gab.  His gift inspired many people to get to know him.  He was very popular in the Hampton Roads area.  He was a loving, kind-hearted, giving person.  Anytime you encountered “Frank”, he was always smiling

He was preceded in death by his brother, Cecil Carey. 

 Left to cherish his memory are his mother, Rebecca Elliott, his daughter; Alecia Halison, his sons; Kevin Thomas (Tawanda) and Demetrius Reeder, his sisters; Faith Whitehurst and Rebecca Duplessis, his brothers; Herbert Carey (Theresa), Floyd Carey (Cheryl), Willie Basnight (Rochelle), Napoleon Basnight, Sylvester Basnight (Kay), Soloman Basnight, and Tommie Lee Basnight, his grandchildren, Akaila Halison, Kanier Shorter, Kevin Thomas, Amonte Copeland, Aqeel Ihsaan, Jayla Reeder, Alaya Reeder, Tashawna Parker, Trequan Speller, Drequan Speller, and Taiwan Parker-Jones, his great grandchildren; Kaiden Speller and Nasir Jones and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family, and friends.

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