William Webster Franklin (born December 13, 1941) is an American lawyer, politician, and jurist from Mississippi.

In 1963, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mississippi State University at Starkville.

and Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law at Oxford and was admitted to the bar.

He was defeated in 1986 in his bid for a third term by African-American Democrat Mike Espy.

Upon leaving the U.S. House, Franklin returned to Greenwood to practice law.