Frank Loden Hemphill, age 102, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2021, at the Clary Care Center in Toccoa, Georgia.
Frank was born in Franklin County, Georgia. He was the son of Charlie Franklin Hemphill and Almedia Louise Loden Hemphill. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his wife, Martha Frances Segars Hemphill and siblings, Mary Charlotte Walters, Emily Louise Burgess, Julia Faye Kinney, Fred Kenneth Hemphill, and Margaret Anne Hemphill. Frank is survived by his daughter, Cindy Frances Hemphill Bush (Roger); grandchildren Jessica Lauryn Bush Rigler (Todd) and Parker Frank Bush (Joy); great-granddaughter Emma Claire Rigler; sister Jonell Kirby Cash; brothers-in-law Kelvin “Jack” Segars and W. T. Segars; and a number of beloved cousins, nieces and nephews, and their extended families. Frank was a member of Sunshine Methodist Church in Toccoa, Georgia and a past member of Clarkesville United Methodist.
Frank grew up on a farm in Toccoa and always enjoyed agriculture. He graduated from Franklin County High School in 1937. After high school, Frank attended Reinhardt Jr. College and worked on the college farm to help pay for his education. After graduation, he worked for Franklin County Agent’s office in the summer of 1940. His job responsibilities included measuring crops and plotting aerial maps. For the following two school years of 40/41 and 41/42, he taught 7th grade and coached a winning basketball team at Spence. During the summer of 1941, he worked for the County Agent’s office in Grady County. In 1942, he received draft papers for the Army but was deferred until the school term was completed. In July of 1942, he volunteered for the US Navy, where he went to Norfolk, Virginia, to complete Electrical School service training. He became Chief Electrician’s Mate during World War II, while stationed in the Panama Canal. The base where he was stationed was the last place submarines could get repairs as they came through the Panama Canal on their way to the Pacific, and Frank made electrical repairs on everything from submarines to aircraft carriers. After honorable discharge from the Navy in 1945, he returned to Franklin County and married Frances Segars in 1947. Wanting to stay in the field of electrical work, shortly after his marriage in 1947, he was hired at Habersham Electric Membership Co-op as a work-order clerk. He learned many aspects of the workings of the Co-op, and he became the manager of HEMC in 1956. He worked at HEMC until his retirement in 1986. Since 1986, he and Frances lived in Clarkesville, Georgia and they later moved to his homeplace in Toccoa, Georgia. Frank served his community through activities such as the church finance committee and the Lions Club. He was also a member of the SAR (Sons of the American Revolution.) Frank enjoyed gardening, home and farm projects, genealogy, attending church and community events, and was an avid reader. He was known for his ethical leadership, gracious and kind spirit, and a life based on Christian principles. His friend and dentist, Dr. Twilley held a 101st birthday celebration for him and at that time, he aptly summed up his life: “Mr. Hemphill is a very fine man.”
The family wishes to acknowledge the exceptional care and attention shown to Frank from the Clary Care Center in Toccoa, Georgia.
A Private Funeral Service will be held at Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel followed by interment at Sunshine United Methodist Church.
A video recording of the service will be available on the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory Facebook page (facebook.com/whitfieldfh) on Saturday, September 11, 2021.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sunshine United Methodist (Toccoa, GA), Clarkesville United Methodist (Clarkesville, GA) or Reinhardt College (Waleska, GA).
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, South Chapel at 1370 Industrial Boulevard, Baldwin, Georgia 30511. Telephone: 706-778-7123.
