Rev. William Franklin (Frank) Mansell Jr., died on December 22, 2017, in Charleston, W.Va. He was born on May 23, 1940, in Richmond, Va., to Rev. William F. and Ruth (Hill) Mansell Sr.
Frank grew up in Vicksburg, Miss., and graduated from Carr Central High School in 1958. He attended Davidson College and graduated cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1962.
He followed a call to ministry in the Presbyterian Church as an ordained minister, and attended Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, receiving his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1966.
He also was a graduate of Union Theological Seminary in Virginia and the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council Churches in Bossey, Switzerland.
Frank served three congregations as a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA): Memorial Presbyterian Church, West Monroe, La.; Buntyn Presbyterian Church, Memphis, Tenn.; Village Chapel Presbyterian Church, Charleston, W.Va.
In his 38 years of ministry, Frank served as moderator of Memphis and West Virginia Presbyteries, stated clerk of West Virginia Presbytery and was a commissioner to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1974. Frank had a passion for education, youth ministry and ecumenical relations in the church. He mentored many future lay leaders and pastors in the church.
Upon retiring from active ministry in 2006, Frank regularly volunteered building homes for Habitat for Humanity of Kanawha and Putnam. Frank was also a member of the Charleston Civitan Club.
Frank is survived by his wife of 51 years, Joan (Ellsworth) Mansell of Charleston; his son, William Franklin (Deborah) Mansell III of Indianapolis, Ind.; his granddaughters, Erin and Heather Mansell; his sisters, Mary Pope of Port Gibson, Miss., and Sarah Randall of Vicksburg, Miss.; and many members of his extended family.
A service of witness to the resurrection will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at Village Chapel Presbyterian Church, 3818 Venable Avenue, Charleston, WV 25304. A reception to visit with family and friends will be held immediately afterwards.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com.
Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, has been entrusted with the arrangements.