Jerry Ray Ledford
Jun 27, 2026
Jerry Ray Ledford, 76, passed away on Saturday June 27th, one day short of his 77th birthday. He was born June 28th, 1949, in Macon County, son of Sherman Hall Ledford and Anna Katherine Smith. “Matty,” as all who knew him called him was truly “one of a kind.”
His early life was defined by is service in the United States...
Alice Underwood
Jun 24, 2026
Alice Mashburn Underwood, 87, passed away on June 24th, 2026, at Eckerd Living Center. She was born on September 23rd, 1938, to the late Grady and Jane Henry Mashburn.
Wife of the late, Gorden Underwood. Alice was preceded in death by her only child Arquillia Henderson Jamison; brothers, Howard, Furman, Bruce, David, and Dayton; sisters, Gertrude, Mildred, Nina; son-in-laws, Ralph Henderson...
Jean Anne Davis
Jun 24, 2026
Jean Clarke Davis, 84, of Franklin, North Carolina, passed away in her home, on June 24, 2026. Born in Hackensack, New Jersey, to Richard and Florence Clarke, Jean was raised in Winter Park, FL where she attended Winter Park High School and Florida Presbyterian College.
A lifelong educator, Jean earned her master’s degree in Elementary Education from Jacksonville University. She devoted...
Susie Franks Welch
Jun 24, 2026
Susie Ann Franks Welch, 55, of Franklin, North Carolina, passed away on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
Born in Macon County, she was the daughter of the late William and Bonnie Scott Franks. Susie was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend who cherished every moment spent with her family. She especially enjoyed time with her sons and grandsons, who were the...
Michael Gary Shuler
Jun 21, 2026
Michael Gary Shuler, 60, of Franklin, went to be with his Lord, Savior, and best friend Jesus on Sunday, June 21, 2026. Gary was born in Macon County on July 1, 1965, to Joseph Paul and Ernestine Shuler, his parents, who survive him.
He was of the Baptist Faith and was a member at Liberty Baptist Church. Gary had such a...
Chad Keith Shuler
Jun 20, 2026
Chad Keith Shuler, 49, of Cordova, SC, formerly of Franklin, went to be with the Lord on June 20, 2026. Chad was born in Macon County, on August 25, 1976, to the late Douglas Shuler, and Marilyn Shuler, who survives him.
Chad graduated from Franklin High School. He then worked for many years as a maintenance mechanic in food manufacturing. He...
Shelby Houston
Jun 20, 2026
Shelby Houston, 72, of Franklin, North Carolina, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones. She was born on December 16, 1953, in Wilkes County, NC, to the late Richard B. Foster and Margaret Mastin Foster.
Shelby devoted her life to caring for others. A proud member of Longview Baptist Church, she lived her faith through service, compassion, and kindness. She spent...
Jean Tani Soldo
Jun 19, 2026
Jean “Shug” Tani Soldo
Shug Soldo, 84, passed away peacefully at her residence in Highlands, North Carolina, surrounded by her husband, her three children, and her two grandchildren.
If you were ever lucky enough to know Shug Soldo, you know exactly what that meant: you ate well, you celebrated, you laughed, and you left every interaction with a sense of belonging and...
Hortez Bateman
Jun 19, 2026
Nina Hortez Virginia Moffitt Bateman, 97, of Franklin, NC, passed away on June 19, 2026, at her home.
Hortez was a native of Macon County, born to the late Charles A. and Inez Dillard Moffitt on Feb. 11, 1929. She was raised in the Asbury Methodist Church and graduated from Franklin High School in 1948.
She married Garland Bateman on Dec. 29,...
Christopher Jepsen
Jun 17, 2026
Christopher Arthur Jepsen, 62, of Mobile, AL, passed away on June 17, 2026, following a surgery.
Chris was born in Montreal, QUE, but grew up in Franklin, NC – a place that he still called home and had planned to return.
He is survived by his parents Faye and Arthur Jepsen, of Mobile, AL; a daughter Alicia, of Franklin, NC; a son...
Ivan Franklin Harber, Jr.
Jun 17, 2026
Ivan Franklin Harber, Jr. (Frank) of Franklin, NC passed away peacefully on June 17, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He was 71. At the time of his passing, he was in the care of Solace Hospice Center in Asheville NC. Frank was born in Leesburg, FL on October 28, 1954. Son of Ivan Franklin Harber, Sr. and Jackie L....
Jimmy E. Shook
Jun 17, 2026
Jimmy E. Shook, age 84, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2026.
Born on August 31, 1941, in Franklin, North Carolina, Jimmy was the son of the late Ezra and LaVerne Shook. He lived a life filled with hard work, devotion to his family and a passion for anything with an engine. Whether attending car shows, admiring classic automobiles, or enjoying...
Patricia Busby Thomas
Jun 16, 2026
Patricia Busby Thomas, age 72, of Franklin, NC, passed away on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
She was born in Hamlet, NC, to the late Bill and Patricia Drummond Busby. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Earl Thomas.
Patricia attended the Church of God. She was a loving mother who cherished her family deeply. She...
Cheryl Harkness
Jun 15, 2026
Cheryl Harkness, 78, passed away on June 15, 2026, at Chestnut Hills of Highlands. Born on July 19, 1947, in Pontiac, Michigan, she was the daughter of the late Robert Thompson and Lois Smith Thompson.
Cheryl returned to Franklin in June of 2017 with her husband and was of the Methodist faith. She was preceded in death by her parents; her...
Helen Burnette
Jun 12, 2026
Helen Marie Bullard Burnette, 78, of Franklin, NC went to be with the Lord, her Savior on June 12, 2026. She was surrounded by her loving family who will miss her dearly. Helen was born on December 18, 1947 in Wilmington, NC to the late William and Louise Bullard. Helen was a loving mother, grandmother and friend to many. She...
Gilbert Abrams
Jun 9, 2026
Gilbert Earl Abrams, 90, of Franklin, NC, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in Champagne, IL, to the late Claude and Ruby Haney Abrams. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Becky Pryor; and his siblings, Betty Nail, Eugene Abrams, and Wilma Abrams.
Gilbert was a...
Laura Jane Allbright
Jun 8, 2026
Laura Jane Allbright, 78, passed away on June 8, 2026, in Franklin, North Carolina. Born on September 6, 1947, she was the daughter of John and Frances Demid Smith.
Laura was a devoted member of JupiterFIRST Church in Jupiter, Florida, where she worshipped and built lasting friendships during the ten years she lived in the Jupiter area. She found great fulfillment...
Carol Holland Ashe
Jun 6, 2026
Carol Holland Ashe, age 81, passed away on June 6, 2026, at her residence. Born on December 7, 1944, in Macon County, she was the daughter of the late Vernon and Ila Potts Holland.
Carol was a devoted member of Cullasaja Assembly of God, where she sang in the choir and lovingly cared for children in the nursery whenever she was...
Charles "Ricky" Shope
Jun 5, 2026
Charles Ricky Shope, age 59, of Franklin, North Carolina, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 5, 2026.
Ricky was born in Rabun County, Georgia, and later made his home in Franklin. He was a kind and caring man who found great joy in helping others, especially his family and children. Ricky had a deep love for animals, particularly dogs and horses—and...
James Henry Burnette
Jun 3, 2026
James Henry Burnette passed away on June 3, 2026, at Life Care Center in Hendersonville, NC at the age of 92. He was born in Macon County on May 7, 1934.
He worked for Champion Paper Company for many years. He retired from Henderson County DOT in Hendersonville, NC. He loved the outdoors and farming. He enjoyed spending time with his...
