James F. Tobias Sr.

James Franklin Tobias, Sr., of Wilson, South Carolina, died on September 29, 2007. His wife, Joann Moye Tobias, preceded him in death. They were happily married for 49 years.

Frank was the sole remaining child of Hessie Lowder and Daniel Friendly Tobias. On their farm, one of Frank’s happiest memories was helping his Daddy get water for the “Old Northwestern” train at the Wilson Depot. He remained an ardent fan of railroads and loved to take his children on Sunday afternoon excursions to retrace the old routes. As Frank grew older, he became even more fascinated with machinery, especially automobiles. He was a natural-born mechanic and bought his first car at a very early age.

He decided not to farm full time and went to work for the S.C. State Highway Department. He told stories about his experiences, including moving the logs to build the Santee Bridge. Frank worked in the Naval Shipyard in Charleston during WWII. He, Joann and their infant daughter, Ann, returned to Wilson to live after his duties concluded in Charleston. He began working as a mechanic at Prothro Chevrolet in Manning. As service manager, he supervised mechanics there for over 40 years, building up lifelong business relationships due to his honesty and dependability.

Frank met Joann Moye in the summer of 1940. He also said he knew she was special because he let her wear his roller skates in his convertible! Frank and Joann became the parents of six children: Ann, Frances Lee, Evelyn, Jimmy, Louisa and Sherri. The family lived next door to Mr. and Mrs. Tobias Sr. and Frank’s sisters, Mary Martha and Alethia.

Frank was an active member of Union Methodist Church until he became too ill to attend. He, Joann and all the children were members of the church that was so dear to Hessie and Daniel Tobias. This little country church, one of three in the Jordan Charge, was the center of life for most of the families in Wilson. Hessie and Daniel’s adult children and their families often had Sunday dinner together after church. There were times when there were 10 adults and 16 grandchildren at dinner.

Frank urged all of his children to succeed in school. All six attended college and entered various professions: nursing, dietician, landscaping, administration, and teaching. He was delighted as his children married and began their own families: Ann (Mack) Fleming, children: Jenny, Randall and Sarah; Frances Lee (Don) White, children: Madeline and Mary Beth; Evelyn (Tom) Moore, children: Thomas and Benjamin; Jimmy, children: Jamie and Jennifer; Louisa (Moffatt) Bradford, children: Drouet and Nicholas Vidrine; and Sherri (Doug) McGowan, children: Justin and Tyson Smith. By 2004, there were also 7 great-grandchildren: Eliza, William, Edward, Harrison, Landon, Isabel and Joseph. He was also “Uncle Frank” to many beloved nieces and nephews. His commitment to public education was always strong – he urged his friends and business contacts to support the tax bill for Manning’s new high school. He also was a great supporter of the Boy Scouts, leading a troop of Wilson boys for several years, including a trip to the Darlington race track.

Frank retired for the second time from Santee Motor Company and spent the remaining years making improvements to the family farm. He was a faithful steward of the farm that his parents worked so hard to build up. He became involved in the program to plant crops to support quail and planted several acres of longleaf pine trees: his gift, he said, to his children.

The family wants to thank the many friends and relatives who were so attentive to their father. They have their love and gratitude always. The family cherishes so many memories of Daddy and “Gran”; they wanted to share a few with friends and relatives who also loved “Mister Frank.” Like many families, they really just want the world to pause, for just a second, and acknowledge the passing of a good man, a devoted son, beloved daddy, grandfather and faithful husband.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, 2007, in Wilson Union United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Devere Williams officiating.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007, at Stephens Funeral Home in Manning.

Memorials may be made to Wilson Union United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 780, Manning, S.C. 29102.

Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.