A. Frederick Freeman

Mr. A. Fred Freeman passed away Wednesday morning, February 27, 2013 at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center. Funeral services are planned for Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 2:00 PM in the chapel of Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St., with Rev. Joy Wilson officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will include J. Frank Freeman, III, Matt Freeman, Scott Ivey, Ralph Harvey, Mike Copeland, Billy Lovelace, Mitch Cohen, Pat Spann, and Kirby Gregory. Those requested to serve as honorary pallbearers are employees of the Plains Post Office, and Jane House and the employees of Magnolia Manor Retirement Center and Nursing Center. The family will receive friends for one hour preceding the funeral services, beginning at 1:00 PM on Saturday at Hancock Funeral Home. A lifelong resident of Sumter County, Mr. Freeman was born June 1, 1943, a son of the late John Frank Freeman, Sr. and Bertha Kate Johnston Freeman. Mr. Freeman was a graduate of Americus High School and was a popular lifeguard at the Americus City Pool in the early 1960's. He graduated from Georgia Southwestern College, and later returned to teach glass blowing in the art department at the college in the late 1970's. During those years, it was a familiar sight to see him blowing glass with a bandana tied around his head and his contagious grin shining through his thick beard. He spent four years in the Army, where he achieved the rank of Army Specialist 5th Class. He served in Blankenheim, Germany in the late 1960's. Mr. Freeman was employed for 20 years as a rural mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service, working out of the post office in Plains. He was well-known by everyone on his route because, as he had done his whole life, he took an interest in every family represented by a mailbox. His happy, engaging, friendly nature made him loved by all who knew him and will cause him to be remembered warmly. Survivors include a brother, J. Frank Freeman, Jr. (Jennie) of Plains; a sister, Frances Freeman Maginnis of Plains; nieces and nephews, Colleen Maginnis Parkhurst of Winston Salem, NC, Lee Maginnis Striet of Cary, NC, J. Frank Freeman, III of Gainesville, and Matthew A. Freeman of Gainesville. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Magnolia Manor, 2001 S. Lee St., Americus, GA 31709. To sign our online guestbook and express your condolences to the Freeman family, please visit www.hancockfuneralhomeinc.com Hancock Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.