Brighton: Thursday, June 8, 2017 at the age of 90. Predeceased by his parents, Raymond and Cornelia Frank; brothers, Charles and Walter Frank; brother-in-law, William Smith. Survived by his sister, Teresa Smith; brother, Herbert (Elaine) Frank; special friend, Sr. Joyce Witman SSND; sister-in-law, Mildred Frank; several nieces, nephews, three great nieces; and many wonderful friends. Fr. Edward was an Army veteran of WWII. He was ordained into the priesthood in 1957 and recently celebrated his 60th jubilee. Father spent most of his ministry throughout different parishes in the state of Georgia. Father loved to pursue foxes or coyotes on horseback and was Chaplain of the Belle Meade Fox Hunt in Thomson, GA.

Father Frank
Friend. Mentor. Man of God. Sportsman. Horseman. Comrade in Arms. Foxhunter. Leader. Listener. Negotiator. Such a Good Friend. The rarest kind of friend. Not only could I always count on him, I could always count on his unconditional love.
Passionate about God, Life, Friends, Family, Horses, Hounds, and the Great Outdoors – God’s Most Wondrous Cathedral.
He had a special way with all of them – and all of us.
I was 9 years old when my father, James Wilson, and his best friend, Pete Knox, started Belle Meade Hunt. Father Frank was our first and only Hunt Chaplain for 45 years. I grew up with Father Frank as a regular participant in our hunts – and a regular guest in our home. Almost every other Wednesday he would come over and hunt with us.
He was a fine horseman. He cut quite the dashing figure on his mighty steed. He was handsome and trim and strong and fearless. Many a fair maid was very disappointed to find out he was a priest!
He had tremendous credibility as a Hunt Chaplain. Of course he prayed with us regularly. He had such a great delivery when praying the traditional Blessing of the Hounds prayer. He researched the story of Saint Hubert, the patron saint of hunters. He told the story of Saint Hubert and his experience in the Ardennes forest in France over 1,200 years ago.
He knew the story well. And he hunted just like Saint Hubert had hunted. He rode a horse fearlessly, just like Saint Hubert. He loved the chase as Saint Hubert did. He did not just talk about it. He lived it – and lived it with great gusto!
There are 152 fox hunting clubs in the US and Canada. There are another 400 in the UK, Ireland and Australia. Nearly all of them have annual Blessing of the Hounds ceremonies.
Father Frank did such a great job with ours that it became the largest and most well attended Blessing of the Hounds ceremony in the world. And it remains so to this day.
Being the largest was not the goal. Making it the best it could be was our goal. Each year Father Frank and our committee would try something to make it a little better. There are 100 uniformed riders on well turned out horses. There are over 500 people on 25 Tally Ho Wagons following the Hunt over hill and dale for hours. There is a lot of choreography of horses, hounds, riders and wagons.
Father Frank understood it all. He loved horses, hounds, people and hunting. He loved the beautiful countryside. He developed our blessing ceremony into the most reverent of any in the world.
It now serves as a model for other hunts all over the world.
Father Frank was so respected and revered that he was asked to perform the Centennial Blessing of the Hounds Ceremony at our National Hound Show at the Museum of Hounds and Hunting at Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia. This is the highest honor our sport could bestow on him.
This happened to be two days after the Golden Jubilee ceremony honoring him for his having served in the priesthood for 50 years. And if it had not been for air travel, he would not have been able to do both.
He was a soft spoken leader. He did not crave the limelight. He was simply ready to serve whenever and wherever he was needed.
He was never "preachy". His sermon was the way he lived his life.
I don’t know anyone who was more loved and respected.
He was the rock to lean on for our club.
I am proud and honored that he was my very good friend.

Epp Wilson
Master of Foxhounds
President, Belle Meade Hunt
Thomson, Georgia

Friends are welcome Monday 2-5pm at the Mercy Center 1437 Blossom Rd. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday 11am at the Mercy Center with The Most Reverend J. Kevin Boland, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Savannah. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Mercy.

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