Franklin David Hathaway's Obituary
Franklin (Frank) David Hathaway, 88, of Gulf Coast Village Retirement Community, Cape Coral, Florida, loving husband, father, adored pops/papa, friend to everyone, and a one-of-a-kind extraordinaire passed away on November 16, 2023. He has joined his Lord, Christ Jesus and reunited with this wife of 54-years, Patsy Lynn Hathaway. Frank was preceded in death by his sister Neadeen B. Caler, brother Emmet L. Dixon and granddaughter, Brittany Hathaway who passed in infancy.
Frank was blessed to have had two sets of parents. He was the son of the late Benjamin Hathaway and Sadie Pickren Hathaway Watts who adopted him at an early age from his biological parents, John Smith and Audrey Pickren Smith. He was the grandson of Tom and Mattie Pickren. All were from Brunswick, Georgia.
Frank was born in Brunswick and graduated from Glynn Academy. He served in the Georgia Army National Guard and United States Marine Corps during the 1950’s. After his time in the service, he attended South Georgia State College in Douglas, Georgia. From there he was employed by Georgia Pacific until he retired in July 1999.
Frank was a previous member of the Northside Baptist Church of Darien, Georgia and the Northside Baptist Church of Brunswick, Georgia. Through Yaweh’s grace, Frank came to know Christ Jesus while assisting in the construction of the Brunswick Northside Baptist Church. For that his children will always be grateful along with the legacy of faith Frank and his wife Patsy passed to their family.
Frank rarely met a stranger and when asked how he was doing would always reply, “fair to middling.” A jovial person, he loved to tell jokes and play billiards. He played in the Golden Isle Pool League and won numerous tournaments with his teammates. He was a harmonica player and a DIE HARD UGA Dawg Fan. Prior to Covid, one would find Frank watching a Saturday game with the Salty Dawgs fan club in Ft Myers, Florida. Being such a devoted fan, he would watch replays of UGA games throughout the year and could not wait for each new season.
Left to cherish his memory are his children, family and friends. He is survived by his son David and his wife Shelia of Hendersonville, NC, daughter Carol and husband Kim Eric Mills of Cape Coral, Florida and two grandchildren, Andrew Mills and Erica Mills of Cape Coral, Florida and two adopted “sons of the heart,” David Ramalho of Austin, TX and Christian Burkhart of Lin Creek, MO and dearest of friends Ms. Mary Jones also of Cape Coral, Florida. Frank is also survived by his sisters Lynn and her husband Tommy Stewart, Mrs. Mary Sanders all of whom are of Brunswick, Georgia and Fran and husband Robert Strickland of Loveland, Colorado and in-laws Joseph E. Corlette, Mrs. Bonnie Lynn, Mrs. Vivian Lynn and Eddie Rozier all of whom are from Darien, GA. He will truly be missed by his numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends.
A graveside service will be held at a later date at the Brunswick Memorial Park in Brunswick, Georgia where he will be interred and reunited with his wife, Patsy.
What’s your fondest memory of Franklin?
What’s a lesson you learned from Franklin?
Share a story where Franklin's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Franklin you’ll never forget.
How did Franklin make you smile?