Funeral Services for Frankie G. McConnell, Sr., 76, of Woodlawn will be held at 12pm Monday, March 28, 2016 at Eastern Hills Church of Christ with visitation taking place 1 hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow in Colonial Gardens Cemetery.  Mr. McConnell was born November 19, 1939 in Marshall and died March 17, 2016 at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California after a sudden illness.

Frankie was the son of John William McConnell and Beatrice Hogue McConnell. He was a member of the Eastern Hills Church of Christ, where he was a Deacon, former Elder and leader of the visitation program.  He was very passionate about his work for the Lord.  Frankie was a professional photographer since 15 years old, where he used his mother's kitchen to develop his film.  After graduating from high school, he graduated from the School of Modern Photography in New York, by correspondence.  He served in the National Guard/Army for 3 years and worked at Rains & Talley Funeral Home as an ambulance driver.  After marrying Lynda, he began his professional career at Sterling Studio in Texarkana, Texas.  Frankie and Lynda then purchased the Moderne Studio in Atlanta, Texas.  They moved to Marshall in the early 1970s when he became the chief photographer at the Marshall News Messenger for approximately 25 years.  He was seen by many on the sidelines in a red sports coat taking pictures at Maverick football games.  The McConnells also owned and operated their own photography studio taking school pictures, individual and family portraits.  He was employed in the news media for over 40 years.  Recently retiring from the Texarkana Gazette in 2015, where he was named employee of the year during his tenure.  After retirement he began working on his personal book yet to be published, "Looking Through The Lens".   He spent his last several days on this earth doing everything he loved.  Traveled on an Amtrak to California with the love of his life, visiting with children and grandchildren and enjoying nature while taking photographs along the way.  He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend and will be greatly missed by many.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Lynda Helms McConnell; three children, Frankie (II) and Mandy McConnell of Acton, California, Amie and John Grubbs of Jefferson, Texas, and Eric McConnell of Hallsville, Texas; Four grandchildren, Cameron Grubbs, Parker Grubbs, Austyn McConnell and Mason McConnell.  He is also survived by his brother, John L. McConnell of Marshall, aunt Grace McConnell Taylor of Wake Village, Texas, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his parents, John W. McConnell, Beatrice Hogue McConnell and one sister Betty Davidson.

Pallbearers: Frankie McConnell, II, Eric McConnell, John Grubbs, Cameron Grubbs, Philip Calhoun, Michael Davidson and Jeff Waldrop

Honorary Pallbearers: Jack Baldwin, Pinkie Palmer, Bob Christian, Greg Pyle (Elders), Daryl Ware, Chase Palmer, Brandon Smith, Jason Peterson, Russell Bynum, Terry Cloud (Deacons), Dee Watson, Max Patterson, Jerry Yarbrough and George Foreman