Franklin L. “Bill” Britt, retired educator, died Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
A memorial celebration of his life is planned for Sunday, February 15, 2009 at the Harrellsville Baptist Church, Harrellsville, North Carolina at 2 o’clock.
A native of Harrellsville, North Carolina, Bill was born November 5, 1933 to the late Callie Baker Britt and Joel Augusta Britt.
Bill made the most of his opportunity to live a full and complete life. His love of north eastern North Carolina, small schools ideals, and public education characterized his thirty-four years of service to children.
After completing a tour of duty with the US Air Force and graduating from Wake Forest College, he began his career as a science teacher at Windsor High School in Bertie County. After two years, he served as principal of West Bertie Elementary and then Central School in Pasquotank County. Next came terms as superintendent of Pasquotank and Edenton-Chowan Schools.
Larger horizons beckoned. Bill was hired by the State Superintendent of Public Education to plan, staff, and direct one of the first regional service centers in the state. The Northeast Regional Education Center in Williamston offered leadership and consultant services to the seventeen school districts in the northeast. He served in this capacity for sixteen years until his retirement. After retiring, Bill returned to his beloved Harrellsville to become a “gentleman” farmer.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Wade Britt of Harrellsville, and a sister, Anne Britt Miller of Tallmadge, Ohio.
He is survived by his wife, Maxine Britt; son, Franklin L. Britt, Junior (Thea) of Sweden; daughter, Martha Britt Becher (Robert) of Plainfield, Wisconsin; grandsons, Kenneth and Logan Becher; sister, Josephine Britt Dantz (Robert) of Harrellsville; and many cherished nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, 131 Racine Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403 or to a charity of your choice.