A memorial service is planned Tuesday, July 28, at Davidson College Presbyterian Church for the Rev. Frank Lemmon, who died Friday, July 24, 2009, at The Pines at Davidson. He was 81 years old.

The Rev. Lemmon was a Davidson College graduate and had served the Presbyterian denomination for many years. He and his wife Georgia moved to Davidson in 2000, and became members of Davidson College Presbyterian Church.

Tuesday’s memorial service begins at 10 a.m. at DCPC’s Lingle Chapel, Main Street and Concord Road, with the Rev. Bill Tiemann presiding. A reception will follow in the parlor.

The Rev. Lemmon was born Oct. 16, 1927, in Marion, Va., to Alexina Lincoln Lemmon and Frank T. Lemmon.

He graduated from Davidson College, then attended Union Theological Seminary in Richmond. There he met his wife of 57 years, Georgia Powell. After graduating, he served two churches; Rosewood Presbyterian and Gregory Memorial Presbyterian in eastern Virginia. In 1957, he was called to be the organizing minister of Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, where he served for 14 years. He then founded a pastoral counseling practice and also served as supply pastor for Pittsboro Presbyterian and Mount Pleasant Presbyterian churches.

Frank was a kind and affirming man who found the good in everyone he met. He loved life. Even in his last years of declining health, if anyone would ask how he was, he’d reply, “Fine as frog hairs split down the middle.”

He fell madly in love with Georgia the moment he met her and his love for her never wavered. He showed his love for his three children by the joyful times he spent with them. His warmth, playful spirit and loyalty helped him to form deep and abiding friendships. Frank served for many years on the board of the Frankie Lemmon School and Developmental Center in Raleigh, named in memory of his third child, who had Down syndrome. He helped with fund-raising and acted as mentor and cheerleader to the school’s staff.

Frank is survived by his wife, Georgia, brother and sister-in-law Bill and Rosa Lemmon, son and daughter-in-law John and Susan Lemmon, daughter Laura Thise, grandchildren Scott Lemmon and wife Monica, Nick Lemmon, Olivia Moulton and husband Richard and great-granddaughter Claire Moulton.

Besides the memorial service Tuesday, graveside services will be held on Wednesday, July 29, at 12:30 p.m. at Rose Lawn Cemetery in Marion, Va., with the Rev. Neville Mozingo officiating.

The family thanks Dr. Ron Beamon and the staff of The Pines at Davidson for the loving care they gave Frank. The family requests that donations be made to the Frankie Lemmon School & Developmental Center, c/o Frankie Lemmon Foundation, 2301 Stonehenge Drive, Suite 102, Raleigh, NC 27615.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service & Crematory of Marion, Va., is serving the Lemmon family.