Frank Wilton Hedgepeth, 53, died Wednesday, April 4, 2007, at his home in Nashville after a 16-month battle with cancer. He was born October 28, 1953, in Nashville, N.C., the son of Frances Griffin Hedgepeth and the late Elijah Wilton Hedgepeth. Frank graduated from Northern Nash High School in 1972 and Campbell College in 1976, where he played varsity baseball. Frank returned to Nashville after college, where he began his insurance career and ran Frank Hedgepeth Insurance Agency Inc. affiliated with Nationwide for 22 years.

During his free time, Frank enjoyed playing golf with his friends, trips to the beach, and spending time with his grandchildren, who lovingly called him "Pops."

Surviving are his mother, Frances Griffin Hedgepeth, his wife of 31 years, Gwen Dickerson Hedgepeth, his sister Kay Hedgepeth Raley and her husband Kirby, and his two children and two grandchildren; Jennifer Hedgepeth Hutson and her husband Brian of Red Oak and their children Peyton and Wells; Travis Frank Hedgepeth of Wilmington. The funeral was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, at Parkwood Baptist Church. The family received friends before the service between noon and 1:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of the church. A graveside service followed at Nashville's Forest Hills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center: Thoracic Oncology Program CB #7295, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7295, Friends of Hospice 2460 Curtis Ellis Drive, Rocky Mount, NC, 27804, or to Parkwood Baptist Church, 1731 Hunter Hill Road, Rocky Mount, NC, 27804. Arrangements were by Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home in Rocky Mount.

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