Local obituaries for
Franklin & Highlands North Carolina.
Eloise Hurst
Jun 11, 2026
In Loving Memory of Margaret Eloise Hurst
Eloise Hurst, age 85, passed away on June 11, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Eloise lived a life defined by hard work, devotion, sacrifice, and unconditional love for those she held dear.
For more than 40 years, Eloise worked as a waitress at B & D Restaurant, where she became a familiar...
Leroy "Spud" McCall
Jun 10, 2026
Mr. Leroy "Spud" McCall, 72, of Highlands, NC, passed away Wednesday, June 10, 2026. He was born February 20, 1954, in Macon Co., NC to the late Cletis McCall and Betty Jean Norris.
"Spud" was an avid outdoorsman, who loved hunting, fishing, and all his adventures with his special friend, Donna Rogers, with whom he treasured 17 years of friendship. A...
Linda Gail Roper
Jun 10, 2026
Ms. Linda Gail Roper, 67, of Franklin, NC, passed away Wednesday, June 10, 2026. She was born June 18, 1958, in Macon Co., NC to the late Jackson T. Roper and Betty Jewel Reece Roper.
Ms. Roper graduated from Franklin High School in 1976 before attending Berea College in Kentucky. Gail first worked at Kountry Kampground before going on to co-own...
Gary Puckett
Jun 6, 2026
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Gary George Puckett, who left this world on June 6, 2026, at the age of 89, in a tragic car accident. Born on August 4, 1936, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Gary's life was a tapestry of spirited adventures, unwavering dedication, and boundless love.
Gary was the son of Gerrold and...
Clay Edward Sams
Jun 4, 2026
Clay Edward Sams, age 85, of Charlotte, NC, passed away on June 4, 2026, at The Sharon at Southpark in Charlotte.
Clay was born on April 26, 1941, to the late Estel Clay Sams and Geneva Luvina Mantooth Sams in Hayesville, NC. He graduated from Franklin High School in Franklin, NC, in 1959. A proud and dedicated engineer, he graduated from...
Dewey Victor Tallent
Jun 3, 2026
Mr. Dewey Victor Tallent, 81, of Franklin, NC, passed away Wednesday, June 3, 2026. He was born August 21, 1944, in Macon County, NC to the late Gladys Edwards and Hiram Tallent.
Dewey retired from General Motors, having worked on the assembly line and as a mechanic and track driver for many years. He could often be found visiting and hanging...
Edwin Harold Houston
Jun 2, 2026
Edwin "Ed" Harold Houston, 81, of Clayton, GA, passed away Tuesday, June 2, 2026. He was born July 30, 1944, in Rabun County, Georgia to the late Ray C. Houston and Ruby Woods Houston.
Mr. Houston worked for thirty years for Schmitt Building Contractors in Highlands, NC. He was a US Army veteran serving during the Vietnam War. He was a...
John Joseph Pittari
May 31, 2026
John Joseph Pittari, M.D. died on May 31, 2026, in his home on Amelia Island, Florida. He was 95 years old and with loving family when he passed away. John is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 64 years, Patricia Anderson Pittari; their eldest daughter, Mary Catherine; and their youngest child, Natalie Christine. He is survived by their...
George Steven Castellaw
May 31, 2026
Steve Castellaw died peacefully in his home on May 31st. He was born in Commerce, Georgia on July 5th, 1945, to Wilma Nix Castellaw and George Wilburn Castellaw. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Leita Castellaw Cobb.
Steve attended Commerce High School, where he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. After high school, he attended the...
Marcia Osteen
May 29, 2026
Ms. Marcia A. Thornal Osteen, 75, passed away Thursday, May 29, 2026.
Marcia was born June 6, 1950, in Tampa, FL to the late Burton Thornal and Mary Wilson Thornal.
She worked as an accountant at Friends and Family Tax Service. She also worked at a group home in Arcadia, FL, and a newspaper writing several news columns for the Yoursun at...
Gary Lee Holder
May 26, 2026
Gary Lee Holder, 67, of Franklin, NC, passed away Tuesday, May 26, 2026. He was born November 20, 1958 in Swain County, NC to the late Garl Buford Holder and Carolyn Jean Jenkins Holder.
Mr. Holder was a truck driver making long hauls. He loved fishing and putting model cars together.
He is survived by a son Dennis Lee Holder; sisters, Connie...
Richard Paschal Norton
May 23, 2026
Richard Paschal Norton (Rick), 80, of Greenville, SC, formerly of Franklin, passed away Saturday, May 23, 2026. He was born and raised in Franklin, NC, the son of the late Paschal Norton and Maybur Henson Norton.
Mr. Norton was the Housing Coordinator for Macon County and retired after 20 years of service to the citizens of Macon. He was a Staff...
Williston "Willie" Frank Houston
May 19, 2026
Williston "Willie" Frank Houston, 85, of Franklin, NC passed away on May 19th at Angel Medical Center. Born in Rabun County, GA on November 30, 1940, he was the son of the late Roy and Carrie Houston.
Willie worked at Highlands Police Department and retired as the assistant police chief. Willie proudly served in the United States Army as a member...
Smokey Buchanan
May 16, 2026
Floyd "Smokey" Buchanan, 87, passed away peacefully on May 16, 2026, at the Elizabeth House in Hendersonville, NC. Born on July 23, 1938, Smokey was the dear son of Minnie Gregory Buchanan and the youngest of 9 children. He was a lifelong resident of the Norton Community. In 1966, Smokey married his lifelong love, Lassie Edith Crane of Highlands.
Smokey worked...
Robert Harrison Hicks
May 14, 2026
Robert Harrison Hicks, 85, passed away May 14, 2026. He was born in Macon County, Nantahala Community, August 28, 1940, to the late Rev. Edgar Hicks and Catherine Hicks. He was raised by his grandparents, the late Arthur and Martha Jane Waters Hicks.
Robert was of the Christian faith. He worked for many years in the timber business as a saw...
Nancy Carol Tallent
May 13, 2026
Nancy Carol Hunter Tallent, 80 of North Charleston, SC passed away to be with the Lord Wednesday May 13, 2026. Nancy was surrounded by loving family and compassionate caregivers at the time of her passing. Nancy was the loving wife of the late US Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Wayne Reese Tallent. Wayne and Nancy were married for 57 years...
Weldon JB Keener
May 13, 2026
Welden JB Keener, 78, of Highlands, NC, passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2026. He was born November 9, 1948, in Macon Co., NC to Ruby Estelle Webb Keener and the late JB Keener.
Born in the Goldmine Community, Welden was a lifelong resident of Macon Co., NC; he also lived in Rabun Gap for many years. He worked in and retired...
William Joseph Holten, Sr.
May 8, 2026
William Joseph Holten, Sr., 90, of Franklin, NC, passed away Friday, May 8, 2026. He was born February 21, 1936, in East St. Louis, Missouri, to the late Anthony H. Holten and Virginia Lee nee Cranna Holten.
Mr. Holten was a US Army Veteran and had worked as manager of St. Joe Container in Florida. He loved visiting the State of...
Charles "Charley" Atwood Czarniecki
May 7, 2026
Charley Czarniecki born January, 19th 1950 in Saint Charles, Illinois and Died May 7th 2026 in Franklin North Carolina. Charley, one of 9 children in the Czarniechi family is survived by 4 siblings, Leila, Lani, Wheezy and Lisa. In addition to his wife Soni, Son, Charley Lavelle, stepson, Cody and granddaughters, Joslyn and Gemma, Nephew, Max & his wife Rebecca...
Joseph "Joe" Hinds Rayl
May 7, 2026
Joseph Hinds Rayl, 79 of Highlands, NC and Ocklawaha, FL, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully on May 7, 2026 surrounded by his loving family at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, GA.
Born in Kokomo, IN on January 3, 1947, Joe was the son of the late Earl and Mildred E. Rayl. He was an entrepreneur extraordinaire, owning and operating a...
Subscribe
Subscribe to get alerts on new obituaries when they are posted.
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.
