Give Love: Life on Death Row

On the final episode of Give Love, Jess recounts his first face-to-face meeting with Franklin, and a chorus of voices shares how Franklin's life and story have impacted them. Franklin closes with a stirring statement on legacy and invites listeners to connect with him at the following address:Texas Department of Criminal JusticeFranklin Davis 999585PO Box 660400Dallas, TX 75266-0400NOTE: All mail must be sent in a basic white envelope.

Rachel Gross founded Death Row Support Project more than 45 years ago, and now she's passing the leadership torch to her daughter Heidi. In many ways, the program has always been a family affair, and it's changed lives for thousands of inmates and those who correspond with them. Rachel and Heidi share about the origins of the project, how it's grown and where it's headed next. To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp

Franklin's faith has been put to the ultimate test on multiple occasions. In this episode, he openly shares how his views on spirituality, organized religion and the afterlife have evolved since he was sent to death row.To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp

Ahmad is the only one of Franklin's five children to visit him in prison. A conversation with Ahmad and his girlfriend, Christal, reveals early memories of Franklin, what it's like to meet with him now, and whether Ahmad has been able to forgive his dad for everything that's transpired.To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp

It doesn't take long after officers knock on his door for Franklin to realize that his fate is sealed. In this episode, he walks us through the experience of being on trial for capital murder along with his first days on death row. To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp

Linda spends her retirement visiting dozens of prison inmates, housing parolees and co-hosting a radio show that provides crucial information to people on death row. Despite regular encounters with those in the prison system, her bond with Franklin has become extraordinarily special.To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp

After years of abandonment, loss and heartbreak, Franklin attempts to carve his own path in life as an adult. With no positive mentors or guardrails, his journey to seek peace and security results in chaos, homelessness and a cold act of vengeance that sends him to prison.To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp

Franklin's teenage years bring fresh waves of violence, multiple rounds of foster care and an unusual family reunion with devastating news that will change his life forever. He also enters into his first serious relationship, which impacts all of his future forays into dating and intimacy. Advisory: This episode discusses sexual violence and other forms of physical abuse.To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp

The conversation continues with Franklin Davis, an inmate on Texas death row for the past 11 years. Franklin is going to give us a glimpse into his childhood, and to call it rough would be an understatement. Advisory: Rape, murder, and other forms of violence will be addressed today, as they’re all pieces to the puzzle that is Franklin and the path his life has taken.To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp

Franklin and Jess met 3 years ago thanks to the Death Row Support Project, a program that has connected thousands of inmates to writers around the world. More than 100 written and emailed exchanges later, Franklin and Jess have built a rich relationship. And now they get to discuss life via phone calls, thanks to new tablets being allowed on death row in Livingston, Texas. This story—Franklin’s story—is so much more than a murder case. It’s a story about life: his life, Jess' life, and how they’ve become intertwined in surprisingly beautiful ways. To learn more about Death Row Support Project, visit brethren.org/drsp