‘He was well-loved in that community:’ Sellers mayor dies in Marion County tractor crash

MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) - A Pee Dee community is morning the loss of its mayor after he died in a tractor crash Thursday evening.

Authorities said Sellers Mayor Frank Jones was mowing grass with his tractor on the side of the road in the area of Church Street when it rolled underneath into a ditch, entrapping him and leading to his death.

Jones was remembered Friday as someone who was admired in his community, and as a man who would do anything for anyone.

“He was doing what he liked to do and served his citizens of Sellers,” said Marion Mayor Ashley Brady.

“He was a man’s man,” added Marion County Fire Chief Jeremy Bass. “He was a blue-collar type of guy. He was one of those people that if you called him, he’d get the job done, whatever it took.”

Jones was a servant of the community for decades as mayor and was up for re-election later this year. Those WMBF News spoked to on Friday said his ultimate goal was the beautify and improve the town he called home.

“He was well-loved in that community and he was a longtime fixture and it’s going to be tragic for us,” said Brady. “A lot of prayers for his family, because they’ll need it. Time will heal this, but we will miss Frank.”

A nearby neighbor told WMBF News that she saw the tractor before the accident. She later called Jones to help not knowing that it was him.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Stay with WMBF News for updates.

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