Franklin Lamar Varnedoe

The staff of Dorchester Funeral Home would like to extend its sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Franklin Varnedoe. 

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4 

Franklin Lamar Varnedoe was born March 27, 1952 in Savannah, Georgia to George Edward Varnedoe, Jr. and the late Rena Wynn Varnedoe.  He passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 15, 2021.

Franklin began his education at Liberty County Elementary from 1st through 7th grade and then at Liberty County High School from 8th through 12th grade.  He attended North Carolina A&T State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1974. In 1974 he was also commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army where he was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia; Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Germany and Fort Hood, Texas.  In 1975 he married Raleighetta Vonzell Johnson and had 2 children, Brandon Lamar Varnedoe and Ashley Briana Varnedoe.

At an early age, he gave his life to Christ at St. Peters A.M.E. Church in Midway, Georgia.  In high school, Franklin was in the marching band and played the saxophone.  While at North Carolina A&T State University, he was in the Army R.O.T.C. program and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. After the military, Franklin worked at Union Camp; Counter Tops Plus, Inc. and as a Manager at KFC. He was also a Pack Advisor for Boy Scout Troup 581.

Proceeding him in death was his daughter Ashley Briana Varnedoe;  his mother Rena Wynn Varnedoe and his sister Marjory Varnedoe. Left to treasure his memory is one son, Brandon Lamar Varnedoe and wife Jessica of Hinesville, GA; Ex-Wife Raleighetta Vonzell Varnedoe of Midway, GA; Father, George E. Varnedoe of Midway; Sisters:  Dr. Matilda F. (Warren) Riles of Midway; Dr. Celestine Varnedoe (Andrew) Jackson of Waycross; Arnita Varnedoe (Eric) Jones of  Johns Creek, Georgia; Brother in Law Nathaniel Brown of Midway; Grandchildren Elijah Lamar Britt; Eric Jerome Tindal; Ashton Isaiah Varnedoe; Ashlee Lamaria Varnedoe, Jacob Nolan Varnedoe and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.  

A walk-through visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at Dorchester Funeral Home in Midway, Georgia.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, September 23, 2021 at 1:00 PM at Dorchester Funeral Home in Midway, Georgia.

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