Franklin D. Kicklighter, Sr. passed away on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at his home in Aberdeen. He was 79 years old.
He was born in Long County, Georgia on April 25, 1934 to Earl and Mamie Rose (Strickland) Kicklighter. His family moved to Tattnall County in 1941, when the Fort Stewart Military Installation was created.
He attended schools in Glennville and church at Beards Creek Baptist Church, where his father served as deacon. After graduating from high school, he gained employment with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Stewart in their timber management division. His work eventually led him and his family to North Carolina, where he remained in the employ of the Corps of Engineers until his retirement. In his last position as resident inspector, Timber Harvesting, his responsibilities included managing the 100,000 acres of timber at Fort Bragg for the U.S. Government. He was a Registered Forester in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia and a member of the Society of American Foresters. He had also served in the Georgia and North Carolina National Guards.
He enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman most of his life. He also enjoyed cooking, woodworking, college basketball and reading his Bible.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Jesse Allen Kicklighter; and a sister, Lennie Ruth Howard.
He is survived by a daughter, Julie (and husband William) King of Raleigh; two sons, Frank (and wife Amy Byrd) Kicklighter of Fayetteville, Georgia and Mark Kicklighter of Raeford; two sisters, Earline Glisson of Statesboro, Georgia and Lois Curry of Glennville, Georgia; a brother, Talmadge Kicklighter of Jesup, Georgia; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many loving nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A memorial service will be held at Beards Creek Primitive Baptist Church, 60 Beards Creek Church Road, Glennville, Georgia, on Saturday, July 20th, at 11 a.m. The family will receive friends and relatives one hour before the service time at the church.
The family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to the Beards Creek Church Cemetery Fund.
Online condolences may be made at www.crumplerfuneralhome.com.