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SUMTER, SC -- It's been a tough few days for the Sumter Fire Department.

Chaplain William Eugene Franklin died Tuesday in a motorcycle accident.

Colleagues and friends joined his family in saying farewell Friday afternoon.

A longtime friend says Franklin will be sorely missed.

"He was in my store Monday of this week, and I had to come into town Monday, but my daughter was there, and he said to tell your mother that I'll be back to see her real soon...."

Sadly, that never happened.  Eugene Franklin's long-time friend, Carrie Lenoir, says she first met him when she played the organ at his ordination.

She remembers the chaplain as having a big heart.

"It's just unbelievable what a fine Christian gentleman he was... If anybody is having any kind of trouble, he would do his very best to remove that trouble... We have lost a wonderful jewel in our area."

The Reverend Eugene Franklin is remembered as a special friend to all.

The other person involved in Tuesday night's accident with Franklin is an 84-year-old man.  Police have charged him with failure to yield the right of way.