Franklin McClendon

Franklin Dwight McClendon, age 90, of Sun City Center, went home to be with Jesus on Saturday, May 3, 2025, surrounded by peace and love.

Born August 9, 1934, in the countryside of Walker County, Alabama, Frank was the son of Hubert and Lorene (Tidwell) McClendon. He grew up plowing fields barefoot and learning the values of hard work, faith, and perseverance. Through grit and determination, Frank broke through barriers and built a life defined by purpose, dedication, and deep love for his family.

As a teenager, Frank joined the U.S. Navy, serving proudly as an electrician aboard ship. After his military service, he returned to Birmingham, Alabama, where a YWCA dance led him to meet his future wife, Marie Keith. They married soon after and began building both a family and a future. Frank launched a career in real estate while raising three children.

At age 33, Frank felt called to ministry and earned his bachelor’s degree from Troy University in Alabama before going on to complete a Master of Divinity at Emory University in Georgia. As a Methodist minister, he became known for his unwavering faith, magnetic sermons, and ability to turn around struggling congregations. Within months of arriving at a new church, pews were often filled to standing room only. A joyful presence in any room, Frank had a rare gift for making people feel seen and heard. His word was as good as gold, and he was deeply connected to his congregations—living as a man of true, enduring faith.

As a minister, Frank worked for churches across the Alabama circuit in cities including Crossville, Union Springs, and Gadsden.

After retiring to Florida, Frank settled in Sun City Center, where he remained active in both community and church life, serving as a visitation pastor. After 54 years of marriage, he lost his beloved Marie Keith in 2014 but found love again in 2016, marrying longtime resident Marie Ware McClendon. Together, they were joyful and faithful members of the King’s Point community and Trinity Baptist Church.

Frank is survived by his loving wife Marie; his three children—Renae Pruitt (daughter, Alabama), Keith McClendon (son, Florida), and Kent McClendon (son, Florida); and dozens of adoring grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A funeral service, open to friends and neighbors, will be held Saturday, May 10, at 11 a.m. at Trinity Baptist Church, 702 W. Del Webb Blvd in Sun City Center, with a light lunch to follow. Frank will be laid to rest in Trinity Memorial Gardens in Trinity, Florida. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Trinity Baptist Church in Frank’s memory.