Franklin Tomorrow’s monthly FrankTalks will be held on Monday, September 8th at Carnton, 1345 Eastern Flank Circle, Franklin. The hour-long program will begin at 9:30 but join us for a 30-minute coffee social starting at 9 a.m.
September 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the publication of “The Widow of the South” by the late Robert Hicks, who died in 2022.
Hicks was a New York Times bestselling author for his 2005 novel, “The Widow of the South,” in which he told a fictionalized account of the life of Carrie McGavock, matron of Carnton Plantation, to tend the graves of more than 1,500 soldiers killed in the Nov. 30, 1864, Battle of Franklin.
The book brought international attention and a flood of visitors to Franklin, Carnton and other Civil War historic sites after it was published in 2005. He was named Tennessean of the Year in 2005 by The Tennessean for the impact of the novel as well as for the co-founding of Franklin’s Charge, which brought together numerous organizations in a broad-based coalition dedicated to reclaiming Franklin’s Civil War legacy through land acquisition and interpretation. Hundreds of acres have been reclaimed and Franklin’s Charge remains a vital community organization, which has raised millions of dollars through its efforts.
The National Park Service called the success in Franklin “the largest battlefield reclamation in North American history.”
Among those participating on Sept. 8 will be Eric Jacobson, CEO of the Battle of Franklin Trust, and Julian Bibb III, co-founder of Franklin’s Charge. Maureen Thornton of Visit Franklin and Tim Kearns, chair of the BOFT Board, will attend, as well as other special guests.
FrankTalks is presented monthly by Renasant Bank and our sustaining partners, Atmos Energy; RaganSmith, A Pape-Dawson Company; and Williamson Health. Thank you to Lyon Leadership Group, our local McDonald’s franchisee for coffee for the event.
To RSVP for the event, follow this link.
