Franklin Phillip Kerns

Coach Franklin Phillip Kerns, age 82, died Monday morning at East Georgia Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. Frank was a native of Cumberland, Maryland but had lived in Statesboro since the early 80’s. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a Master’s Degree in Physical Education and served in the United States Marine Corp, during the Korean War. He was the Head Men’s basketball Coach at Georgia Southern University from 1982 until his retirement in 1995. Frank also coached in China in the Chinese NBA League for a year and in Europe for the Austrian League for 6 years. After his retirement he coached Basketball at Bulloch Academy for a couple of years, played golf at Forest Heights Country Club, as much as he could and always enjoyed a game of Gin Rummy with his buddies at the club.

Survivors are his wife Susan Talmadge “Tally” Kerns of Statesboro; a daughter and son-in-law Katherine Kerns Hall and Scott of Nashville, Tenn.; a son and daughter-in-law Daniel Talmadge Howell and Tanya of Belden, Miss.; 5 grandchildren Kate Hall, Brandon Howell, Katelyn Howell, Brooke Howell and Kyle Howell; one great-grandson, Lincoln Brooke Trumps.

A Funeral Mass will be held Thursday August 6, 2015 at 10:00am at the St. Matthew’s Catholic Church with Father Douglas K. Clark and Reverend Joan Kilian officiating.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 5, 2015 from 5:00pm till 7:00pm at Hodges-Moore Funeral Home.

Active Pallbearers will be Joe Edenfield, Walter Garvin, Jeff Hook, Jeff Price, Mike Backus, Stacy Webb and Dan Protzman.

Honorary Pallbearers will be the former and present Coaches and Basketball Players of Georgia Southern University.

Please visit our online memorial at www.hodgesmoore.com to sign the guestbook and share fond memories with the Kerns family.

Hodges-Moore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.