Mr. Franklin Delano Savage was born April 22, 1937, in Accomac. He was the youngest of eight children (six boys and two girls) born to Jack and Addie (Finney) Savage. He passed away on Feb. 26, 2024, at INOVA Fairfax Hospital surrounded by family after a long and courageous battle with lung disease.
Frank accepted Jesus Christ at a very young age. He attended Accomack County Public Schools and was an honor roll student. He left high school for two years to take care of his mother. He graduated from Mary Nottingham Smith High School in 1958.
Frank married his one and only true love Hilda “Pauline” Bagwell in 1959. From this union, they had five children. Pauline died unexpectedly at the very young age of 32, leaving behind children ranging from age 3 to 13. At the age of 33, Frank became a single father. He worked several jobs simultaneously to feed and care for his family. The Accomac – Church Road Community exemplified the saying “it takes a village.”
Frank worked as a bus driver for Accomack County Public Schools for 59 years. He truly was an icon in the community. He loved the thousands of student riders and they loved and admired him. Parents entrusted him as part of their extended family because they knew how much he cared for and kept their children safe. Reviewing report cards gave him an opportunity to praise jobs well done and encourage students who he knew had great potential.
Beginning work as a bus driver in 1958, Frank drove a 1957 Ford all over Accomack County, delivering students to the segregated Mary N. Smith High School and taking them back home.
Over the years, he became a friend to legions of students who rode his school bus. The soft-spoken Accomac resident also became an uncanny observer of adolescent traits, learning how to listen and speak to children.
Savage never had an accident in the school bus and was never cited with a traffic ticket.
Frank enjoyed time with his family and was proud of each and every one of them. He attended their activities every opportunity he was able. He enjoyed watching sports and was an avid Atlanta Braves and Washington Commanders fan. He preferred to watch women’s basketball because he thought they may not be as athletic but had better fundamental skills.
Frank was affectionately called “The Governor” because he was highly respected in the community. He enjoyed hunting with his friends. Other pastimes he enjoyed were reading and playing spades and pinochle.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Hilda Pauline Savage; parents, Jack and Addie Savage; brothers, William, Leroy, Samuel, Edward, and Wilbert; and sisters, Helen and Annie.
He leaves behind children, Beverly Bagwell, of Accomac, Franklin (Natasha) Savage, of Accomac, Keith (Patricia) Savage, of Fairfax, Cynthia Savage Reid, of Accomac, and Michelle Savage Reid (Derwin Strand), of Harborton; grandchildren, KeSheal Bagwell Queenan, of Savannah, Ga., Lawrence (Terris) Bagwell, of Magnolia, Del., Kim Bagwell, of Accomac, Kiasha (Quinton) Johnson, of Belle Haven, Kentral Savage, of Accomac, Connell “CJ” (Kavesha) Reid Jr., of Melfa, Kadeen Duffy, of Virginia Beach, Kiara (Jordan) Ball, of Houston, Kethan Savage, of Falls Church, and Kwantrell Reid, of Accomac; 11 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Sandra (June) Easley, of Onancock; brothers-in-law, Nathanial Bagwell, of Yonkers, N.Y., and Preston (Betty) Savage, of Onancock; nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives; and his phone talking buddy, Barbara Strand.
The children of Franklin Savage would like to thank everyone for their prayers, givings, and love.
The family wishes him a “Happy heavenly birthday, April 22, 2024, love, your children and grandchildren.”
