Joseph Franklin Whitehead, Sr.

Joseph Franklin Whitehead, Sr., 92, of Bogart, Georgia, passed away on January 18, 2022. He was the son of the late Lon F. Whitehead and Susie Westbrook Whitehead.

He was born on March 26, 1929, in Jackson County, Georgia. He graduated from Watkinsville High School, Class of 1947. Frank was married to Louise Mayes Whitehead of Athens, Georgia, until her death in 2013.

In addition to his parents and wife, Frank was preceded in death by his sisters Kathryn Veale and Frances Whitehead. He is survived by his sister, Harriet Haskins, Albany, Georgia; his children, Kitty and Chuck Shollenberger, Athens, Georgia; Nancy and David Williams, Bogart, Georgia; Frank and Memoree Whitehead, Watkinsville, Georgia; and Suzanne and Michael Kornreich, Hummelstown, Pennsylvania.

Frank is also survived by his grandchildren Zack, Griffin (Kellyn) and Taylor Shollenberger; Joseph (Katie) and Russ Williams; JC, Mitchell, and Josie Whitehead; Jenna Kornreich; and his great-grandchildren, Ava Grace and Joshua Charles Shollenberger. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Frank grew up farming at his parents’ farm in Eastville, Georgia. He then worked in the tire retreading industry with Firestone for many years in Nashville, Tennessee; Akron, Ohio; and Atlanta, Georgia.

In 1973, he and his family moved to Oconee County, Georgia. At that point, Frank worked as the manager of the retread department at Athens Tire and Supply in Athens, Georgia. He worked at Athens Tire and Supply until his retirement in the 1994.

After his retirement, he was happy to have had a part-time job cutting hay with a life-long friend. Frank became well known on the Oconee River when the white bass were running, and he always caught his share. He had many fishing friends, and he would go to the river anytime he could with anybody.

He loved making sure his yard was always well manicured. If he was not doing yard work or on his lawnmower, he was usually riding around the countryside to see the beauty of the area where he was born and where he lived for the majority of his life.

His passion was talking about and looking at any type of agriculture and farm equipment. He spent many hours on his computer looking at farm equipment and talking to other farmers. He had an M Farmall tractor he had restored. He was proud when his tractor won an award at the Watkinsville Christmas parade.

Frank enjoyed his grandchildren. Fishing with them was one of his pleasures in life. The grandchildren always had something to do at his house. He either put you to work or got out the 40-year-old go cart for the grandchildren to ride. Most all of the grandkids learned to drive a car on his property either on the go cart or a tractor.

His muscadines were known throughout the county. Many friends and family would come to his house every fall to pick his muscadines. He always had a beautiful vegetable garden in the summer. He definitely had a green thumb with anything he planted.

Frank was a member of Briarwood Baptist church. He and Louise were cooks and servers for the Wednesday Night Suppers for many years. They also worked in the Briarwood Baptist Church kitchen during Vacation Bible School. He loved his Sunday School class and all of his friends in the class.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 29 at Briarwood Baptist Church, 1900 Robinhood Road, Watkinsville, Georgia, at 2:00 p.m. Masks and social distancing will be preferred in the sanctuary. A private interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park for the immediate family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Area Churches Together Serving (ACTS), 130 E Thompson St, Bogart, GA 30622, where Frank faithfully served for many years, or to the Dementia Association of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901, or at dementiasociety.org .

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, Watkinsville, GA, is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com