OBITUARIES

Local obituaries for

Franklin & Highlands North Carolina.

Joyce Bridges Powell

Joyce Bridges Powell

Dec 27, 2025

Mrs. Joyce Bridges Powell, 91, passed away Saturday, December 27, 2025. She was born January 31, 1934, to the late Granville Morgan Bridges and Hazel Frost Bridges.Joyce was a devoted mother and grandmother who found joy in creating a warm and loving home. She loved gardening, reading, needlework, sewing, cooking, and baking. In her earlier years, she enjoyed riding horses...

Charles "Charlie" Edward Mann

Charles "Charlie" Edward Mann

Dec 26, 2025

Mr. Charles "Charlie" Edward Mann, 82, passed away Friday, December 26, 2025.

Charlie was born in Macon County, NC April 16, 1943, to the late Horace Mann and Effie Mae Childers Mann. He was married to the late Patricia Hatfield Mann who preceded him in 1981. He worked and retired from Franklin Sheet Metal and Caterpillar. He was a member of...

Cynthia Falls Ray

Cynthia Falls Ray

Dec 24, 2025

Ms. Cynthia Falls Ray, 79, passed away Wednesday, December 24, 2025. 

Ms. Ray was born February 24, 1946, in Gaston, County, NC. She worked as a CNA in nursing. She loved her dog and watch TV. 

She loved going to the beach and singing "You Are My Sunshine"  to her grandchildren.

Survivors include her children, Jakki Sanders and Dandy Sanders; grandchildren, Meagan Sanders...

David W. McGaha

David W. McGaha

Dec 22, 2025

David William McGaha, born on September 1, 1958, in Franklin, North Carolina, passed away on December 22, 2025, at the age of 67.

He was a long-time resident of Peachland, North Carolina. David worked as a plumber at Southern Plumbing and Action Mechanical for many years. He was a loving husband and great friend. David enjoyed watching NASCAR and football with...

Jack Sapolsky

Jack Sapolsky

Dec 19, 2025

Jack Louis Sapolsky, M.D. passed away peacefully on Friday, December 19, 2025.

He is survived by his loving husband of 46 years, Richard Bordeaux, and his loyal, loving niece, Tiby Weinstein, of Greenville, SC. Jack was predeceased by his parents, Thelma D. and I. Louis Sapolsky, and a sister, Betty Trent Weinstein.

Dr. Sapolsky was born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1938. After...

Edward Thomas Casey

Edward Thomas Casey

Dec 18, 2025

Mr. Edward Thomas Casey, 85, passed away Thursday, December 18, 2025. Mr. Casey was born February 26, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois to the late William Casey and Marcella McEneany Casey.

Mr. Casey worked and retired after many years of service from the automotive industry. He was of the Catholic faith and attended St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Bryson City. He...

Joan Crawford Mashburn

Joan Crawford Mashburn

Dec 18, 2025

Mrs. Joan Crawford Mashburn, 86, passed away Thursday, December 18, 2025, surrounded by her family. Mrs. Crawford was born September 6, 1939, in Andrews, NC to the late Charles Willard Crawford and Wilma Morrow Crawford.

Mrs. Joan worked and retired from nursing. She was of the Methodist faith and attended the West Franklin Baptist Church with her husband Roy. She loved...

Billy Kennith Penland

Billy Kennith Penland

Dec 17, 2025

Mr. Billy K. Penland, 51, passed away Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

An obituary will be posted when complete. 

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Penland family. 

Willa Faye Pendergrass

Willa Faye Pendergrass

Dec 15, 2025

Mrs. Willa Faye Hooper Pendergrass 82 of Nantahala passed away Monday, December 15, 2025, Willa Faye was born June 28, 1943, in Graham, North Carolina, to the late Hester Gibson Hooper and Fred Hooper.

Mrs. Pendergrass was a member of Aquone Baptist Church, and she loved the Nantahala community. She also adored birds, particularly hummingbirds and cardinals. Mrs. Pendergrass was a...

Nancy "Nan" Jane Setser Bulgin

Nancy "Nan" Jane Setser Bulgin

Dec 14, 2025

Nancy Jane Setser Bulgin, “Nan” to friends and family, passed away quietly on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

She is survived by her husband of over 62 years, Randolph Bulgin, her son and daughter-in-law George and Sue Bulgin, four step-grandchildren, and sisters Pat Wilson and Carolyn Waters. Nan was the seventh of eight children and was loved by many nieces and nephews.

Nan...

Mary Jeanette Chidsey Trott

Mary Jeanette Chidsey Trott

Dec 11, 2025

Mary Jeannette Chidsey Trott, age 92, of Highlands, North Carolina, passed away on December 11, 2025.

Jean was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose life was defined by resilience, creativity, and deep love for her family. She had a lifelong affection for animals and found great joy in artistic pursuits, particularly in creating beautiful porcelain dolls and imaginative...

Rita Henry Whitley

Rita Henry Whitley

Dec 9, 2025

Rita Henry Whitley, 52, of Franklin, NC, passed away Tuesday, December 9, 2025, after a courageous battle with a very aggressive type of cancer. Rita was born November 5, 1973, to Wanda Adams Henry and the late Riley W. Henry, who passed away October 28, 2025.

Rita worked as a manager in food service and was a member of Ellijay Baptist...

Anne Elizabeth Pinder

Anne Elizabeth Pinder

Dec 6, 2025

Mrs. Anne Elizabeth Pinder, 64, of Franklin, NC passed away Saturday, December 6, 2025 at home.

She was born to James Andre Downey and Rita Shirley O'Brien Downey in New York, NY on March 13, 1961. Annie was lovingly adopted by Herbert and Anne Anderson in NY, all relocating to Boca Raton, FL All are deceased.

Annie was preceded in death by...

Virginia Graves Parker

Virginia Graves Parker

Dec 6, 2025

Ms. Virginia Graves Parker, 88, of Scaly Mountain, NC passed away Saturday, December 6, 2025.

A full obituary will be posted when complete.

Online condolences may be made at www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com.

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to serve the Parker family.

Alan Daniel De Leon-Lopez

Alan Daniel De Leon-Lopez

Dec 6, 2025

Alan Daniel De Leon-Lopez, 17, of Franklin, NC passed away Saturday, December 6, 2025. He was born in Houston, Texas on September 4, 2008 to Maricruz Lopez and Jamie De Leon

Alan was a gentle soul.  He was a loving son, brother, grandson, and friend. He liked shoes, chips, being competitive, and playing video games.

He leaves behind his loving mother, Maricruz...

Samuel Oscar Smith, Jr.

Samuel Oscar Smith, Jr.

Dec 6, 2025

Samuel Oscar Smith, Jr. was born on June 4, 1925 in Riddleville, Georgia, to Samuel Oscar Smith, Sr. and Laura Davis Smith. S.O. was 100 years old when he passed away on December 6, 2025 in Dublin, Georgia.

After his mother died on December 29, 1931, he and his younger brother, Harry, lived with relatives, on a farm near Wrightsville with...

Phyllis May Liebold

Phyllis May Liebold

Dec 5, 2025

Phyllis May Liebold, 81, of Franklin, North Carolina, on December 5, 2025, surrounded by her family, peacefully completed her earthly journey and is now in the loving arms of her Lord and Savior. Born on May 9, 1944, in Portsmouth, Virginia, Phyllis lived a life full of energy, creativity, and an unwavering love for her family and heritage.

She is survived...

Dorothy "Dottie" Keene McPherson

Dorothy "Dottie" Keene McPherson

Nov 29, 2025

Dorothy Keene McPherson ("Dottie") entered into the presence of her Lord on November 29, 2025.

She was born in Orlando, FL on October 11, 1927 to Rodolphus D. and Mary Giddens Keene.

Dottie graduated from Ward Belmont, Nashville, TN and later the Katherine Gibbs School in New York City.

At age 16, she met the love of her life, John Richard ("Dick") McPherson,...

Marion Elizabeth Kussler

Marion Elizabeth Kussler

Nov 27, 2025

Mrs. Marion Elizabeth Nuttall Kussler, born June 6, 1926, in Easton, Pennsylvania, to the late Charles and Kathleen Kennedy Nuttall, passed away November 27, 2025.

Mrs. Kussler was of the Methodist faith. Marion was a great wife, mother, and grandmother. She took care of not only her family, but others as well.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Kussler was preceded in...

William "Bill" Orville Hickok

William "Bill" Orville Hickok

Nov 26, 2025

William Orville Hickok passed away peacefully November 26, 2025, at Chestnut Hill in Highlands, North Carolina, a town he loved and where he was a weekly contributor to the local Highlands Paper as a cartoonist.

“Bill” was born December 21, 1946, in Goshen, New York, a son of the late William O. Hickok VI and Elizabeth Chace Hickok of Goshen, New...

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About Bryant - Grant Funeral Home & Crematory Obituaries and Tributes

Bryant - Grant Funeral Home & Crematory offers a collection of obituaries for Macon County, North Carolina. We conduct funeral services throughout North Carolina that are updated regularly. Find local obituaries and join us in celebrating memories and honoring their lives and legacies. 

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