Sumter County (WLTX) -- The Chaplain of the Sumter Fire Department has died after being involved in a motorcycle accident Tuesday afternoon.
According to Sumter Fire Captain Brian Horton, 64-year-old Chaplain Gene Franklin was killed in the line of duty while on his way to the hospital to visit a fireman.
Troopers say the accident happened around 2:20pm near the intersection of Highway 441 and Black River Road. Franklin was riding a 1999 Honda motorcycle when he ran into the side of a 1995 Lincoln town car. Troopers say the 84-year-old driver of the Lincoln failed to yield the right-of-way.
Franklin was airlifted to Palmetto Richland in Columbia where he died about an hour later.
Franklin was a Baptist minister for 42 years and was the pastor at High Hills Baptist Church. Her also served as chaplain for the Department of Corrections for 30 years. Franklin had been with the Sumter fire department since the early 1970s.
Franklin leaves behind a wife, son, two daughters and numerous grandchildren.
Funeral services will be announced by Bullock Funeral Home of Sumter.
And Jesus took his own hand and wiped away his tears,
And he smoothed the furrows from his face,
And the angels sang a little song,
And Jesus rocked him in his arms,
And kept a-saying: Take your rest,
Take your rest.
Weep not--weep not,
He is not dead;
He's resting in the bosom of Jesus
