Francis Harrington "Frank" Summersell Jr.

Francis Harrington (Frank) Summersell, Jr., husband of Ann (Annie) McMahon Summersell, died peacefully at his home in Mobile, AL on Wednesday May 8, 2013 after a courageous three year battle with cancer. A native of Mobile, Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Francis Harrington Summersell and Inez Torrans Summersell, his brother James Charles Summersell, and his sister Elaine Torrans Summersell. In addition to his wife of nearly 50 years, Frank is survived by his sons Francis Harrington (Trip) Summersell, III (Margaret Dodson), Birmingham, AL, John Patrick (Jack) Summersell (Kimberly Blanchard), and James Bradford (Brad) Summersell (Peri Haddock), Fairhope, AL, his grandchildren Clara Hadley Summersell, Cole Harrington Summersell, Brady Alexander Summersell, Maizie Catherine Summersell, Olivia Ann Summersell, and Francis Alayna Summersell, his sister Ann Torrans Summersell, and other cousins, nieces, and nephews. Frank was an active member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church, a graduate of McGill Institute and Auburn University, and earned his CPA certificate in the State of Illinois. In January of 2008 Frank retired from a lifelong successful career as a businessman. He began his career in Chattanooga, TN with Arthur Anderson & Co. In 1965 he joined the Atlanta Braves as their first Comptroller. Later he learned the wholesale distribution trade in Chicago, IL with Atlanta LaSalle Corporation, parent company of the Braves. In 1977 he returned to his hometown of Mobile where he spent the last three decades of his career building a successful national wholesale distribution business, Educators Resource, formerly Mobile Pen Company. His proudest achievement was having provided jobs for hundreds of people in the Mobile area through the years. During his life, Frank gave generously of his time and talents by serving in leadership roles on boards of numerous civic and charitable organizations, schools, and churches. Frank was dedicated to the support of all humanitarian efforts. In 1993 he received the Lions Club Melvin Jones Fellow Award. Most recently he has offered his time to St. Mary’s Home, Mobile Baykeeper and The Village of Spring Hill. The family will receive friends on Monday, May 13 at 10 a.m. in the Marian Center at St. Ignatius Catholic Church followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Pine Crest Cemetery. Active Pallbearers are: Billy Bixler, Stephen McMahon, Daniel McMahon, Brian McMahon, Ryan Bixler and Mike Lenga. Honorary Pallbearers are: Tim McMahon, John Lewis, Hallet McDonough, Jim Arendall, Tom Arendall, Emil Graf, Tommy Lightcap, Pat Langan, Ted Burke, and Tom Gangle (all of Mobile), Brandon Summersell (active duty in Afghanistan), Bill Leslie (Atlanta, GA), Rod Leslie (Gulfport, MS), David Haig (Pensacola, FL), Buz Baetz (Baltimore, MD), Jim Dwyre (Florham Park, NJ), and Francis Sanda (Auburn, AL). Memorial contributions may be made in Frank’s honor to St. Mary’s Home, 4350 Moffett Rd., Mobile, AL 36618, or McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, 1501 Old Shell Rd, Mobile, AL 36604.