Franklin D. Echols

Mr. Frank D. Echols, age 80, of Douglasville passed away April 20, 2017. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 27, 1937, the son of the late Jim and Eva Mae Gaddy Echols. He graduated from West Fulton High School in 1954 and briefly worked alongside his sister before joining the Atlanta Police Department on February 3, 1958. In 1963, Officer Echols was promoted to Detective where he worked in the Vice, Robbery, Homicide, Fugitive, and Intelligence Units. During his tenure as a career officer, he was promoted several times to the positions of Vice Squad in 1970; Lieutenant in charge of Vice in 1971, Captain in Intelligence in 1972, and Major in 1982. Major Echols’ most notable area of expertise was in Crime Prevention. He became Commander of the Crime Prevention Unit in 1987 and developed a program with citizens groups to encourage communities to assist in the prevention of crime. The program became known as Partners Against Crime (PAC) and was adopted by the Department of Public Safety for the entire city of Atlanta. He received many honors, including Atlanta Public Safety employee of the year in 1984. Major Echols retired in 1991 following 33 years of honorable service.

Following retirement, Mr. Echols enjoyed working in the yard, riding his motorcycle, building things. He would have many neighbors ask for his help in their yards so he began calling himself “Yard Man”. He was deeply loved by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by three brothers; four sisters; the mother of his children: Hazel Eckard Echols; and his beloved cat buddy, Boots.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years, JoAnn McLarty Echols of Douglasville; son and daughter-in-law: Steven and Julie Echols of Canton; daughters and sons-in-law: Tammy and David Jackson of Acworth and Leann and David Hopkins of Villa Rica; step-daughter: Tina J. Dunton; grandchildren: Jeremy Echols, Joy Dixon and her husband, Thomas, Tanner Jackson, Kendall Jackson, Heather Hicks and her husband, Jesse, Camp Hopkins, Holly Hopkins, and Haley Hopkins; great granddaughter: Emma Grace Dixon

Burial arrangements under the direction of Kennesaw Memorial Park.