Franklin Hartsell Obituary

Franklin David Hartsell – known to many as Pastor Frank and Chaplain Hartsell and to a few as Papa Frank and Frankie – died on June 20, 2025, in Clemson.

He was 90.

He’s survived by his faithful wife of almost 66 years, Joyce, who cared for him lovingly in his final months; and by his daughter, Leigh, and sons Jeff (and wife Dora) and Mark (and wife Christy). He was a loving and generous grandfather to David, Lee, Callie and Josefine Lily, and a beloved uncle to many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Belton M. and Vennie Bouknight Hartsell; by brothers Brud and Robert and sister Mildred; and by his beloved mother-in-law Willie Brown and father-in-law Jack.

His was a remarkable life. By dint of his own hard work – and with Joyce’s help and God’s grace – Frank pulled himself up from poverty to graduate from Clemson University and Emory’s Candler School of Theology; rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel as an Air Force chaplain; and helped bring many to God and comforted many more in times of trouble as a minister in the United Methodist Church.

Frank was born on June 15, 1935, in Greenville to Belton Mitchell Hartsell and Vennie Bouknight Hartsell, and was the youngest of four children. His father, who served in World Wars I and II and was a Methodist minister in his second career, died when Frank was just 13 years old.

Working most afternoons and weekends to support himself and his mother, Frank graduated from Seneca High School, where he was a cheerleader and wrote for the school paper. After high school, he worked the third shift at the local JP Stevens plant, and soon decided to join the Navy. It was at this time he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior during a revival at Ann Hope Methodist Church in Seneca.

During 18 months in the Navy, he served as a flight steward, flying all over the Far East. When he returned home, he took a job at Winn-Dixie in Clemson. There, a friend stopped by one day and talked him into attending college at Clemson. It was during this time he met Joyce. School wasn’t easy for Frank at first. On his first date with Joyce, she helped him with a remedial spelling test. And during his second year at Clemson, he accepted a call to the ministry, working at Rock Spring Methodist in Clemson.

He earned his degree at Clemson in industrial management in 1960, while also working at Winn-Dixie and at Abbott’s Men’s Wear in Seneca, writing two sermons a week and courting Joyce. They married in 1959.

After Clemson, he decided to attend Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, where he earned a bachelor of divinity degree in 1963. There, Frank saw a presentation on military chaplains and was intrigued. The Methodist Church soon recruited him to be an Air Force chaplain.

During his Air Force career, Frank achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel and served with distinction in Vietnam, where he earned the Bronze Star for his work with military personnel and the indigenous people there. The Bronze star is the fourth- highest medal awarded by the U.S. military. He also served as a chaplain at bases in Merced, California; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Sembach, Germany; Montgomery, Ala.; Las Vegas, Nevada; Okinawa, Japan; and Biloxi, Miss. At Nellis Air Force Base, he was privileged to serve on the executive committee of the Billy Graham Las Vegas Crusade.

One example of the impact of his ministry was the youth group he guided in Germany. “The Real People,” 160 kids strong, made a real difference in the lives of young people at Sembach and produced at least three ministers. He also attended Squadron Officers School and Air Command and Staff College in Alabama, and then was attached faculty at Squadron Officers School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery.

After retiring from the Air Force, Frank served South Carolina United MethodistChurches in Abbeville and Little River and at Lawrence Chapel in Central.

Fulfilling his goal of returning to Clemson, Frank and Joyce were zealous fans of  all Clemson sports and enjoyed following the Tigers throughout the country.  After settling in Clemson, Frank became active in community organizations serving on the Board of Directors of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Board of Directors of the Clemson Corps; Pickens County IPTAY representative; President of the Clemson Fellowship Club (Clemson’s oldest organization); and the Clemson Rotary Club, where he received three Paul Harris awards for contributions to the club.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 25 at Lawrence Chapel United Methodist Church, 2101 6 Mile Highway, Central, SC 29630. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Lawrence Chapel United Methodist Church (www.lawrencechapel.church/give), designated for the children’s ministry and for music ministry.

Visit RobinsonFuneralHomes.com or Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home & Cremations, 108 Cross Creek Road, Central, SC 29630.