James Benton
Jan 27, 2025
James (Jim) Robert Benton, 76, of Franklin, NC, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 27, 2025, surrounded by family. He was welcomed home by his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jim was born in Tampa, FL, to the late Jeff and Dixie Kemp Benton. He loved fishing, hunting, boating, old cars, and music. His favorite pastime was being with his...
Greg Ward
Jan 27, 2025
Greg Ward, age 74, of Highlands, passed away Monday, January 27, 2025. Greg was born in Atlanta to the late Nathan Duke Ward and Martha Ellis Ward. He was a 1968 graduate from the now closed Headland High School in East Point where he later was active with the school's alumni association. Graduating in 1972, he went on to attend...
David Gibbs
Jan 24, 2025
David LaGene Gibbs, 58, of Franklin, passed away on January 24, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. David was born on July 22, 1966, in Miami, Florida to the late Luther and Beverly Gibbs. He moved to Franklin, North Carolina thirty-five years ago from Florida. He was a truck driver since he started working. He enjoyed traveling the world and...
Richard Mottola
Jan 21, 2025
Richard Mendenhall Mottola Sr., 88 of Franklin, NC, gained his wings on January 21, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. Richard was born May 20, 1936, in Hammonton, New Jersey to the late Nicholas and Josephine Mottola. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Betty Lou and grandchild, Gary Michael Mottola. He attended Guilford College...
Sally Fesperman
Jan 19, 2025
Sally Amanda Nazworth Fesperman, 98, of Franklin, NC, passed away at Skyland Care Center in Sylva NC on Sunday January 19, 2025. Sally was born in Thomasville, GA to the late Benjamin and Daisy Jordan Nazworth. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband Woody Madison, who was killed in WWII; her second husband...
Gary Mcclure
Jan 16, 2025
Gary Leon McClure, 63, passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by family, on January 16, 2025. Born on January 12, 1962, in Whitley County, KY, he was the son of the late Ellison Leon McClure and survived Shirley Jean Colegrove. Gary grew up in Kentucky, where he began working in the coal mines at the young age of 17....
Milo Beran
Jan 15, 2025
Milo R. Beran, age 91, peacefully passed away at his home in Franklin, NC, on January 15, 2025. A longtime resident of Cincinnati, Milo grew up in Mt. Washington, attended Miami University, and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. After serving as an officer in the Navy, he earned his law degree at Chase Law School and practiced law for...
Helen Blue
Jan 15, 2025
Helen Jamrog Blue, age 100, joined her beloved husband, Clyde, who passed away in 2015. They celebrated 68 years together. She was a native of Bay City, Michigan and the daughter of George A and Margaret M. Jamrog, who both preceded her in death. Atso preceding her in death are: her son, Kerry V. Blue; her grandson, Michael J. Blue;...
Jensine Crossman
Jan 11, 2025
Jensine Crossman, 75, of Franklin, North Carolina, went to be with the Lord on January 11, 2025. She was born in Kansas City, on October 31, 1949, to the late Robert and Beverly Smith. Jensine met her husband Henry "Buddy" in Maryland, and they moved to Franklin in 1985. They owned and operated Rainbow Springs Campground for 18 years. They...
Heaven Scent
Jan 11, 2025
Heaven Lee Scent, 41, of Franklin, North Carolina, went to be with the Lord on January 11, 2025. She was born in Buncombe County, on August 8, 1983, to the late Stephen Scent and Caren Rickman, who survives her. Heaven was a native of Franklin and enjoyed the area and being very active. She was a member of Snow Hill...
Jimmie Higdon
Jan 10, 2025
Jim Higdon, age 74, passed away on Friday, January 10, 2025, at his residence. Jim was born in Rabun County and spent most of his life in Franklin. He was a longtime member and deacon of Oak Dale Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents. Howard Higdon and Allene Elizabeth Roper Higdon; son in law, Jimmy Dixon;...
James Lane
Jan 10, 2025
James William Lane, 62, of Smithfield, NC, formerly of Franklin, passed away on Friday, January 10, 2025. Born in Haywood County, he was the son of the late Dr. William Thomas "Tom" Lane and the late Grace Erwin Lane. In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by a brother, Andrew "Andy" Thomas Lane, and his faithful four-legged...
Robert Wooten
Jan 9, 2025
Robert Wooten, 85, of Franklin, NC, passed away on January 9, 2025, surrounded by his three daughters. Robert was born in Miami, Florida to the late Marvin and Dorothy Wooten on December 1, 1939. Mr. Wooten served his country in the United States Air Force from 1958-1966 as crew chief on a C-124. He moved to Franklin from Longwood, FL,...
Grace Houston
Jan 7, 2025
Grace Marie Houston, 84, of Franklin, NC passed away on January 7, 2025. She was born in Washington D.C., on December 23, 1940, to the late Grayson and Freda Tallent. Mrs. Houston lived in Macon County most of her life. She attended Prentiss Church of God for many years and attended Biltmore Church later in life. Grace loved to do...
Nellie Sanders
Jan 7, 2025
Nellie Ruth Sanders, 89, of Franklin went to be with the Lord on January 7, 2025. She was born on October 27, 1935, to the late Pauline McConnell in Macon County, NC. Nellie served her community as a teacher for forty-five years in the Macon County School system. She began her career at Otto Elementary School, worked at Union Elementary...
Mary Bettis
Jan 4, 2025
Mary Sue Jenkins Bettis, 74, of Franklin, NC, passed away Saturday, January 4, 2024. Mary was born in Macon County to the late George and Cordelia Kirkland Jenkins. A private burial will be held at Windy Gap Baptist Church Cemetery. Online condolences can be made at www.maconfuneralhome.com. Macon Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Pamela Goldsmith
Dec 29, 2024
Pamela Penland Goldsmith, 77, of Canton, GA, passed away Sunday, December 29, 2024. Pamela was born on March 10, 1947, in Asheville, NC to the late Robert and Helen Penland. Pamela graduated from Franklin High School in 1965 and attended the University of Miami before marrying her high school sweetheart, Fred Goldsmith. The couple moved often for Fred's coaching career,...
Candy Clarke Wurster
Dec 28, 2024
Kathleen Candy Clarke Wurster, 78, passed away Saturday, December 28, 2024. She leaves behind her daughter Kathleen Price; her long time partner, Gerhard Bartmann, and a legacy of compassion and conviction. After cremation she'll join her mom and dad at a private home gravesite. Online condolences can be made at www.maconfuneralhome.com. Macon Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Eddie Burnett
Dec 26, 2024
Eddie Burnett, age 75, passed away Thursday, December 26, 2024, following a battle with agent orange exposure from his time in Korea. Eddie was born in Macon County to the late Don Burnett and Lois Potts Burnett. He moved to Michigan as a child and returned to Macon County to spend the summers with his grandmother. He met his wife...
Glenda Reeves
Dec 24, 2024
Glenda Reeves, age 78, passed away Tuesday, December 24, 2024, while she was surrounded by her children, and under the exceptional care of Clay County Care Center in Hayesville. Glenda was born in Brevard to the late Alley Rowland Peek and Martha Marie Keener Peek Smith. She spent the majority of her life in Western North Carolina and was a...
