Franklin Edward Higginbotham "Pike", 74, went home to be with the Lord Friday, June 4, 2021 after a lengthy illness.Pike was born on July 30, 1946 with his twin sister Francis to parents Robert Lee Higginbotham Sr. & Georgia Higginbotham in Jacksonville, FL. Pike was raised in Dinesmore, FL on a dairy farm. When he grew up he married his high school sweetheart Bertha Mae "Sissy" Markhum and they had his daughter, Sally Higginbotham, and stepson, Ricky Smith. He went on to serve his country with pride and heroism in the Vietnam War. He was awarded an Army Commendation Medal for saving the lives of several men, along with numerous other medals. In his later years, he married his wife, Sharon Higginbotham, and he gained six step-children. Pike was a hard-working man who worked six days a week to put food on the table. He would take his beloved dog, Tina, that he loved dearly, to work everyday with him. She would sleep by his bed every night. Pike would always meet his family and friends with a smile and welcome them into his house. After a hard day's work, he loved to set with his dog, Tina, on the front porch and have a cold beer. After retiring, Pike loved to spend time fishing and to set with his mother-in-law, Mrs. Iris Hunt, and watching wrestling, NASCAR, football, and old Western movies. Pike was a simple man who didn't need much in life to be content. After taking ill, he went to spend his last years with his daughter, Sally, under her care in Jacksonville, FL until he went home to be with the Lord and past family members. Pike was preceded in death by his wife of 38 years, Sharon Higginbotham; his parents, Robert Higginbotham Sr. & Georgia Higginbotham; four brothers: Robert Higginbotham Jr., Andrew "AJ" Jackson, Albert Lee Higginbotham, and Phillip Higginbotham; three sisters: Mildred H. Smith, Lois H. Barnowhich, and Edna Mae Higginbotham.

He is survived by his two daughters: Sally Higginbotham and Cheri Benedetti Crawley (John); two sisters: Francis Richardson and Elaine Jenkins; his step-children: John Crawley (Kim), Tony Crawley, Jimmy Crawley, Christopher Higginbotham, and Cyndee Wood (Paul); grandchildren: Patricia, Ashley, Josh, Leighanne, Tanner, Payton, Kenadie, Stormy, Jashia, Kamren, Easton, Brandon, Jordan, Samantha, Hunter, Derek, Daniel, and Dillion; and several great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 10-11am on Friday, June 11, 2021 at Hodges Family Funeral Home 301 Chapel in Dade City FL. A funeral service will begin at 11am. Burial will follow at Florida National Cemetery.

Visitation

Hodges Family Funeral Home & Cremation Center

Friday, June 11, 2021 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM 11441 US HIGHWAY 301 Dade City, Florida 33525 Directions Funeral Service

Hodges Family Funeral Home & Cremation Center

Friday, June 11, 2021 11:00 AM 11441 US HIGHWAY 301 Dade City, Florida 33525 Directions Committal Service

Florida National Cemetery

Friday, June 11, 2021 1:00 PM 6502 SW 102nd Avenue Bushnell, Florida 33513 Directions