FRANKLIN–Franklin Ellsworth Whitley, 90, passed away December 14, 2010 at Southampton Memorial Hospital. He was born in Southampton County, a son of the late Garnet E. and Naomi Hedgepeth Whitley, and was predeceased by a brother, Garnet E. Whitley, Jr. He served in the U. S. Army during WWII in the European theater and had retired from Union Camp Corporation.  He was a member of High Street United Methodist Church, the VFW, the American Legion, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and was a charter member of the Bronco Federal Credit Union.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 69 years, Lessie Faison Whitley; a daughter, Linda W. Barnes of Roper, NC; a son, Randall M. Whitley and wife, Carolyn of Franklin; a brother, Bertram M. Whitley and wife, Joy, of Savannah, GA.

a sister-in-law, Florence Whitley of Franklin; four grandchildren, Heather B. Vann (Chris), Catherine B. Roberson (Neil), Jason R. Whitley, and Laura W. Thomas (Ben).

The funeral will be conducted at 2:00 pm Saturday at Wright Funeral Home with the Rev. James H. Hyatt, Jr. and the Rev. Brent Kimlick officiating. Interment, with military honors, will follow in Poplar Spring Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 pm Friday at the funeral home and suggests memorials be made to a favorite charity. www.wrightfuneralhome.org