LOXLEY, Ala. — Loxley lost it’s “unofficial ambassador” Sunday, April 12. Franklin Roosevelt Brackin, known to all as “Frank,” passed away at the age of 76.

“He was so loved,” said Mary Carolyn McDaniel, a member of the Strawberry Festival Steering Committee. “His family was the whole town of Loxley.”

Frank was born in Covington in 1932. He came to Loxley in 1978, and according to Kathy Fleet, director of the Association for Retarded Citizens of Baldwin County, Frank was known to most of the residents of the town. 

“In his early years, Frank rode his bicycle through Loxley, which was adorned with American flags,” recalled Fleet in a statement.

As Frank got older, Fleet says, he gave up riding his bike, but began walking through the town. The fire department gave Frank a bright orange safety vest so he could be easily seen, and Brackin later added an orange jacket and ball cap. He would make sure to visit businesses along Highway 59.

“He loved the Strawberry Festival,” recalled McDaniel. “He was involved with the Strawberry Festival and lived for it from year to year.”

It’s appropriate, then, that he passed away after working, as he did each year, to pick up trash at the festival.

“He was on his way back to the festival to pick up trash, and he collapsed in his yard,” said McDaniel.

Brackin would inspect flags in the town, and would let town officials know if any became worn or damaged. He also made sure that posters for the Strawberry Festival got to area businesses.

“I’ve known him since I’ve been in Loxley,” recalled Katherine Breeden, a member of the Loxley Town Council. “He was so funny. I enjoyed him so much.”

Frank had a good sense of time, and would remind people he met of special occasions such as his birthday, Breeden says.

“Frank looked forward to his birthday and made sure his friends all knew when it was,” said Fleet.

He liked having money to spend, Breeden says, and his favorite presents for his birthday or other special occasions, such as an ARCBC trip to Disney World or Dollywood was spending cash.

“My husband, Joey Knight, would say that he was smarter than we are,” chuckled Joretta Knight. Knight’s mother, Dora Steele, handled Brackin’s finances and watched over him until she became unable to do so. She then turned care of Frank to the ARCBC. 

“My husband thought that as Frank lived in a house behind us, he’d get help with the yard,” said Knight. “Turned out that if Frank saw the mower out, he’d go around, and get into his house from a back way.”

Brackin is survived by two brothers and one sister. Brackin’s funeral was held at 2 p.m. at the Loxley Civic Center Wednesday. He was buried  at Dyess Cemetery in Robertsdale.

The family requests memorial donations be made to the Loxley Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 32, Loxley, AL 36551.