On Monday Frankie Hall’s niece, Paige French, called to let us know that Frankie had passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday morning, May 20th. She had been diagnosed with cancer over a year ago and in typical Frankie fashion, she called it “kudzu.” Always full of dry wit and a positive outlook, she said, “When you have 91+ trips around the sun, you are bound to have at least one bumpy one…” A bumpy 2016 didn’t deter her from working on a massive table built from a 95-year-old white oak tree that fell in her front yard. She sent it to the sawmill and then spent months building it in her woodshop with friends. Frankie also had built a new pulpit for camp’s Woodland Chapel which was unveiled at the 95thc anniversary reunion at camp in 2015.
Frankie directed Illahee from 1969 to 1984, and for the past several months held court in her Leicester NC home with a steady stream Illahee girls – now women visiting. At over 90 years, Frankie had attended the last camp reunion sharing stories and inspiring us and walking around camp and to McLeod lodge. She had only recently retired her golf clubs. Active on Facebook and a follower of our daily summer blog, Frankie stayed connected. She often wrote to us commenting on camp news and cheering us on.
Frankie never forgot the pressure felt by a camp director and would encourage us. Last summer on closing day, she congratulated us for a successful summer and then astutely noted- “Closing day… the happiest day of the year and the saddest day of the year.” She also had instructed her family that she would like to have a Memorial Service at camp, but NOT during camp. Ever practical, she knew camp is about campers. (A Memorial Service for her friends and family will be held on August 13th at 2pm.)
A few months ago, I was organizing the bookshelves in the Curtis office. I had gathered all of Frankie’s books to group them together in one area. She had a vast collection of nature resources; activity instruction and camp training manuals, and I was impressed with her depth of influence in the camping industry and her knowledge. Going through her books gave me insight into camp director Frankie and I felt like I was visiting her in that time rather than in 2017. Her strong sports background was influential at camp. In fact, just before her passing, she was honored by Florida State University where she had taught for 20 years and had been the coach for the first women’s track team.
We have been touched by Frankie and will miss her messages and enthusiasm greatly. But I take heart in one of her notes that lives on as does her legacy at Illahee.
Congratulations on another safe, successful and fun summer.
The dream lives on.
Best to you.
Frankie
Closing Day 2015
See more about Frankie’s inspirational life on our alumnae page.
She will be greatly missed but her influence on the camping world will continue and not be forgotten.
Though Camp Illahee was several decades ago for me, Frankie is a name and a personality that has remained with me ever since. Even when I brought my family to visit a couple of years ago, we weren’t there 2 minutes before the conversation turned to her. What a tremendous life she lived and what an incredible influence she leaves behind for the ages!
Frankie was a wonderful person and have fond memories of her at Illahee. Her niece Paige was in my cabin for many years(50’s and 60’s)and her sister Sis Vereen was the nurse.
She loved our “Heavenly World.” May she Rest In Peace.
The Heavenly World of Camp Illahee was in large part because of her loving presence and guiding wisdom for us all. She will be deeply missed and always cherished. She now can watch over all of her campers with her angel wings on. ❤️
Frankie and Lo were the first directors I remember!
Frankie helped Camp Illahee transition to new, younger owners, when she handed the reins over to Elizabeth and Frank Tindall. So thankful she was able to keep The Illahee Spirit alive, even as she retired.
I never felt more special than when I walked with Frankie, as the youngest camper, to the final night camp fire. I walked with Frankie two summers until Constance Beckman dethroned me. 🙂 I was at Illahee in the mid- 70s and 80s. Ilahee has meant so much to me over the years and in my adult life that there is no way to put it down in this post. Thank you Frankie for all that you did for us in those very lean years and making a heavenly place for us Illahee girls. The memories sustain me today.
Never knew Frankie as a camp director – attended Illahee as a camper, CIT, JC and counselor in the late 40’s and 50’s when Robin and Teeter were running the camp. Knew Frankie as an instructor at FSU – she taught swimming (tho, never saw her in the water – always on deck) and camping (actually met my husband in the camping class) – renewed the friendship long distance on Facebook and in person when my daughter and I took my granddaughter to Illahee – she’s left an indelible mark on the lives of many, many people and will live on through them. Hope to see old friends at the memorial in August.