R.I.P. Frankie Burnham - South Mills, NC - 1966 NASCAR Virginia State Sportsman Champion
General
Jack Carter posted on his blog and on Racing Through History of the passing Sunday of longtimeshort track competitor Frankie Burnham of South Mills, NC. Frankie was a regular competitor at Virginia's Langley Field Speedway, Southside Speedway and dirt Richmond Fairgrounds, Martinsville as well as numerous Carolina tracks, including RAMBI at Myrtle Beach back in the day wheeling his #00. In 1990 I had the pleasure of being on hand when Frankie was inducted into the Strawberry Hill Mod Squad at Richmond, honoring all drivers who competed in NASCAR State Fair Championship Races on the old 1/2-mile dirt Richmond track. Frankie was the 1966 NASCAR Virginia State Sportsman Champion . R.I.P. Frankie. Another great racer from my youth has passed.
Our RR member "Coastal" Jack Walker has a photo of Frankie's Chevy Modified #00 that Jack took at RAMBI in 1962 posted on his Carolina Race Place website. This is a link to his website photo:
http://www.raceplace.zoomshare.com/album/Pit%205%20-%20Rambi%20Raceway%20%26%20Coastal%20Speedway/images/733bfbca964ffe9c17d0c423e6c4c98c_11175806390/:album
Benjamin Franklin Frank Burnham , 79, of 276 Horseshoe Road, South Mills, NC died Sunday, November 27, 2011 at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Born in Camden County, NC, he was the son of the late Isaac Almond and Ella Louise Weeks Burnham and was the husband of the late Karen Howard Burnham. Mr. Burnham was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church; a graduate of South Mills High School; a veteran of the U.S. Army; and the owner/operator of Burnhams Service Station. He enjoyed stock car racing; had won the Virginia State Sportsman Championship in 1966; and had been active in horse racing for twenty-five years.
Mr. Burnham is survived by his son, Mike Burnham and wife Leona of South Mills, NC; a sister, Myra Gregory and husband Joe of Brandon, FL; two grandchildren, Jenna and Josh Burnham; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Chris Burnham.
A funeral service will be conducted Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Twifords Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Frank Thigpen officiating. Burial will be in the South Mills Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the lobby of the funeral home immediately following the chapel service and at other times at their residence. The family suggests donations in memory of Frank be sent to Ebenezer Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 219, South Mills, NC 27976 or to ones favorite charity. Twiford Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC is serving the Burnham family. Condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.twifordfh.com .
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
