Franklinton High School's annual Homecoming parade will roll on Friday, October 7th at 12:30 p.m. It will begin behind the Washington Parish School Board and proceed south down Main Street to Washington Street at the Courthouse and WP Sheriff's Office. From there it will turn at 10th Avenue and make its way to Franklinton Junior High and back to WPSB to disband. The parade will then caravan to James Stafford Road and reorganize for the Franklinton Elementary students. The parade will end at the FHS campus.
It will feature the FHS Demons, the FHS Demon Regiment and support groups, the 2022 Homecoming Court and the MCJROTC along with various campus organizations as well as the Franklinton Junior High support groups.
Keeping with FHS Homecoming tradition, alumnus and Superintendent of the Washington Parish School System, Mrs. Frances Varnado will serve as Grand Marshal.
Frances Holden Varnado is a 1989 graduate of Franklinton High School. She graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a Bachelors degree in Biology Education and minor in English and earned a Masters degree in Administration; she also holds a Plus 30 in Curriculum and Instruction and Child Welfare. Frances married her high school sweetheart, Van (FHS '86), and they are the parents of Ashley King (FHS '14) and son-in-law Carley. They are also the proud grandparents of Cohen Brent King, their heart and world.
Frances has been employed for 28 years in the Washington Parish School System and began her career as a physical science, biology, and environmental science teacher at Pine High School. While at Pine, she served as the Assistant Basketball Coach for one year. With aspirations to become an administrator, Frances moved back to her alma mater to become the Assistant Principal and later moved to Enon as the Principal. She was Supervisor of Child Welfare for the Washington Parish School Board for numerous years and currently serves as Superintendent. Frances is involved with the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International's Beta Rho Chapter for Women Educators, the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, and the Franklinton Economic Foundation. Mrs. Frances and her family own Riverbend Campground located south of Enon.
Frances is an active member of Shiloh Church of Christ. She enjoys spending as much time as possible with Cohen. There is nothing better than his sweet kisses, his smile, and his enthusiasm for cows and tractors. She loves traveling with her family, going to amusement parks (her favorite rides are roller coasters), and riding her slingshot. There is nothing she would rather do after work and on the weekends than to spend time with her family.
When Mrs. Frances was asked how she felt about being asked to be the Grand Marshal this year, she exclaimed, "I feel so honored and excited! I have always been proud to say that I graduated from FHS. GO DEMONS!"
Principal Shane Smith invites everyone to line the streets of Franklinton to honor Grand Marshal Superintendent Frances Varnado and to cheer on the Demons and FHS students. Mrs. Varnado will be honored prior to the game at 6:30 along with the lighting of the memorial candle by the families of the late James Bankston, the late Virginia "Ginny" Burris, and the late LaJohn Magee. The Demons will then play the Archbishop Hannan Hawks at 7:00 p.m.
