Frank M. Hart

            Mr. 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.

            He met his wife, Betty Stevens, in Union, SC, they were married in 1949 and had five children. During his early career, he filled teaching positions in Landrum and Woodruff, before the family moved to Epworth Children’s home in Columbia, SC where Frank served as the Assistant Superintendent. In 1951, during the Korean War Frank was commissioned as a Naval Officer and remained in the US Navy Reserves until he retired at the rank of Commander. 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[1]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.

            During his years leading the Marion public schools, the school system produced no less than eight medical doctors and was accredited in 1974 by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges. Frank felt most honored in being awarded South Carolina’s Superintendent of the Year award in 1983 and 1988.

            In retirement, he filled several interim school administrative positions including the Wil Lou Grey Opportunity School and Marion District Three. In his first year at Marion District Three, Frank returned part of his salary to replace the worn-out football uniforms and upgrade the kindergarten bathrooms.

            Frank remained active in the United Methodist Church. He filled several Marion County church minister vacancies and gladly preached weekly at rural churches using his gift of gab and love of talking.

            Frank’s passions included history, sports, hunting, and vocational/technical education. He was a lifetime Clemson IPTAY member and served on the Clemson Board of Visitors for five years. He was devoted to his family and spent time supporting his children and grandchildren. After 51 years of marriage, his wife Betty passed away in 2000.

            In 2007, he married Nell Grady Fore and moved back to Union, SC where he remained active in civic organizations, education, and his church. Nell passed away in January of 2023.

            Frank is survived by his brother Russell Hart (Marge) and his five children (and spouses): Jane Hart (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.

            Nell is survived by her four children (and spouses): Steven K. (Cindy) Fore of Cross Keys, SC; Mark (Wanda) Fore of Cross Keys, SC; Samuel K. (Katherine) Fore of Plano, TX; and Amy Fore (Charles) Kirksey of Simpsonville, SC.

             In addition, they are survived by their ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren: Mark (Emily) Watson; Jacob (Belinda) Strickland; John Strickland; Ashley (Zac) Farrell; Edward Buggel; Brooke (Cory) Schmidt; Jamie F. (Kevin) Bowers; Jenna Lea Fore; Suzannah Robinson; James Conrad Fore; Ann Myers Watson; Ella Watson; Lindsey Schmidt, Jaxson Farrell; Lexi Farrell; Calvin Schmidt; Elliot Rose Strickland; Chaz Bowers; and numerous nieces and nephews.  Mr. Hart was predeceased by his brothers Mark Carlyle Hart, Edward Hart, John D. Hart, Luke Boyd Hart, and by his grandson, Matthew Marion Watson.

            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 prior to and following the service.

            In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Matthew Watson Endowment c/o Coastal Community Foundation, 1691 Turnbull Ave., North Charleston, SC 29405, (843)-723-3635, to help support Homeless Veterans.

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