Athens City Councilman Frank Travis died this morning of cancer, according to an announcement from the city.
Travis has served on the Athens City Council since 2016 when he was appointed after long-serving Councilman Jimmy Gill died from cancer on Easter Sunday. Later in the year, he faced no opposition in the election and was sworn in that November.
“Frank was a dedicated councilman, a true friend and a person who had a servant’s heart,” Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks said. “He served our city with love, humor and kindness.”
A graduate of Central High School in Paris, Tenn., Travis attended Fisk University.
Travis worked 29 years at the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, and served as a deacon, financial secretary and Sunday school teacher at James Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. He also served on several boards and volunteered for civic organizations. He directed and starred in several local dramatic productions.
