Franklin Hilliard

Franklin Roosevelt Hilliard (89), of Grants, New Mexico, passed away on February 8, 2023.

Franklin, known as Frank or Roosevelt to his family, was born to Henry and Isabel Hilliard on January 25, 1934, in Chillicothe, Texas. Frank and his family moved to Grants in 1957 and lived there until his death. Frank loved hunting, fishing, photography, collecting coins, and gardening. What he loved most was sharing the word of God.

Frank is survived by his four children, Sylvia Cargill, Pearl Bridgeman, Lydia Sutherlin, her spouse Greg Sutherlin, Keith Hilliard, and his spouse Diane Hilliard, seventeen grandchildren, twenty-four great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren. Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Jessie Mae, and son, Franklin Hilliard Jr.

Frank worked construction with his father and put roofs on several buildings in Grants. He then went to work as a mechanic in the uranium mines and later became a local business owner of the Auto Clinic for over twenty-five years.

He was a lifetime member of the church of Christ and served as an elder and deacon. He had a passion for ministry and served as a VIPS (Volunteers Impacting People for Success) at both the men's and women's prisons. Frank also volunteered as pastor at the Good Samaritan.

The funeral service will be Monday, February 13, 2023, at the Grants Church of Christ. The Viewing is at 10:00 am, the service at 11:00 am, and the graveside at 1:00 pm at Grants Memorial Cemetery. Compassion Mortuary will handle funeral services.