LIBERTY — The month of August is recognized as the anniversary month of the founding of the S. C. Franks Chapel of Remembrance of Liberty and Greenville. Founded in August 1935 by the late Sullivan Conway Franks, the firm is one of the most respected funeral directing firms of the upstate. The funeral home in Liberty was opened by the late William E. Andrews in 1944 being located at two sites until 1977.

It was in April 1977, the present Liberty location was opened at 301 East Main Street by Luther Johnson Jr., and the late Evelyn M. Johnson, both licensed funeral directors by the State Board of Funeral Service, The firm was enlarged five years ago to better serve the people of the area,

Luther Johnson, Jr. is the owner and manager of the Liberty chapel, being a graduate of Benedict College, Columbia, SC, and received the Master of Science degree from North Carolina A. & T. State University. He has done additional graduate studies from Pennsylvania State University, State University of Iowa and Clemson University. A retired school principal, he was licensed as a professional funeral director in December 1955.

Luther Johnson III is the licensed embalmer for the firm, having been a graduate of Benedict College with a Bachelor of Science degree and a graduate of Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science, Atlanta, GA with the Associate of Science degree. Both have served as officers, and board Members of their District Funeral Associations and the State Morticians Association. Johnson Jr. has been named twice as Man of the Year of Districts 3 and 4, and named once by the South Carolina Morticians Association.

Members of the Liberty staff include Sippie H. Johnson, Lady Associate, and the following are Funeral Assistants: Pearl Anderson, Carrie L. Anderson, Charles W. Anderson, James E. Bradley, Joseph Ladd, Michael Keith, Ben Hendricks, Mary Webb, Joanna R. Tillies, Diane Mansell, Wallace Heard, Melvin Eady, Emily B. Cheeks and April Heard.

In commenting about the firms 75 years of service to the people of the upstate and other areas, Johnson expresses thanks to every family who has selected the Franks firm in their time of death and loss, “It has always been the aim of the Franks staff to provide the very best to all. We always treat friends like family, providing assistance beyond the cemetery ceremony of helping persons make adjustments that follow a death. We look forward to continuing to be of service in the future as in the past.