Frank Hart Obituary

Frank M. Hart UNION, SC - Frank Matthew Hart, age 96, of Union, SC, passed away on January 12, 2023 after a brief illness. Frank was born October 17, 1926 in Kelton, SC to his parents, James Duncan and Louise Gallman Hart. He was one of six brothers raised on the Hart family farm in Pea Ridge, SC. He graduated from Kelly-Pinkney High School as Valedictorian in 1944. Following high school, Frank attended the University of South Carolina and Howard College of Alabama, as a WWII Naval Aviation Corps Cadet. After the war, he enrolled in Clemson University and received a Bachelor of Science and a Master's degree in Agricultural Education. With the outbreak of the Korean War, Frank was commissioned as a Naval Officer and remained in the US Navy Reserve until he retired at the rank of Commander in 1983. He met his wife, Betty Stevens, in Union, SC and they were married in 1949. They raised their family while Frank served in many positions throughout the South Carolina Public School System, including multiple terms as a superintendent. He was instrumental in helping to desegregate South Carolina's public school system. In 1960, the family relocated, and Frank continued to progress within the Charleston County School system. In 1963, Frank volunteered to become the replacement principal at Rivers High school because it was "the right thing to do". The school had been selected as the starting point of desegregating South Carolina's public school system and many of the state's school administrators had resigned in protest. Frank then moved the family across the state as he helped other public-school districts integrate throughout the upcountry. In 1970, Frank was hired as the Marion Superintendent of schools to integrate one of South Carolina's last public school districts. He served the citizens and students of Marion schools faithfully until his retirement in 1988. It was during this time in Marion that he identified the barriers facing low-income districts and championed much-needed equity funding to raise the standard of education for South Carolina's rural school children. This would become Frank's legacy. Frank felt most honored in being awarded South Carolina's Superintendent of the Year award in 1983 and 1988. He was a lifetime Clemson IPTAY member and served on the Clemson Board of Visitors for five years. After 51 years of marriage, his wife, Betty, passed away in 2000. In 2007, he married Nell Grady Fore and moved back to his hometown of Union, SC, where he remained active in civic organizations, education, and his church. Nell passed away in January of 2023. They fulfilled their wish of caring for each other in their home. Frank is survived by his five children and their spouses: Jane (Bill Buggel) of Hollywood, SC; June (Marion) Watson of Summerville, SC; Joyce (Rogers) Strickland of Red Bay, AL; Frank (Dianne) Hart of Conway, SC; and Duncan (Christine) Hart of Hillsboro, OR; ten grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, January 22, 2023, at Grace United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Union Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held Sunday at the church one hour before and following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Matthew Watson Endowment c/o Coastal Community Foundation, 1691 Turnbull Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405, (843)-723-3635, to help support Homeless Veterans. S.R. Holcombe Funeral Home (www.holcombefuneralhomes.com) Visit our guestbook at legacy.com/obituaries/charleston