Melinda Dawn Whitley

peacefully passed away on March 8th, 2026

surrounded by loving family. She was preceded

in death by her father William Ralph Whitley,

Grandmother Gladys P. Pounds & Grandfather

Nolton Pounds all from Clayton, North

Carolina.

She is survived by her loving daughter, Emma

Grayce Whitley-Anderson of Clayton, North

Carolina. As well as her mother Linda Adams

of Washington, NC, her aunt Betty Sue Haston

of Rocky Mount, NC and other family members

from the Pounds and Whitley Families.

Melinda was born in Clayton, NC to Linda P.

Adams and William R. Whitley. She graduated

from Washington high school in 1984. Then

attended East Carolina University where she

received her undergraduate degree in business

administration. Later on, she earned a masters

degree in teaching special education. She

enjoyed working with special needs children for

many years in both Johnston and Wake

counties.

Melinda trusted in Jesus Christ and prayed

often. She enjoyed reading books of all genres

and loved to surround herself in greenery and

had a very green thumb. Melinda had a soft

heart for animals of all shapes and sizes. In her

earlier years, you would often find her outside

camping and enjoying the world. Anytime she

could she loved escaping to the beach. Melinda

will be remembered for her love of music,

especially the 80’s! She fancied herself a

wordsmith and enjoyed any type of literary

prose.

A visitation for Melinda’s celebration of life with

be held on March 13th, 2026 from 3:30-5:30pm

at McLaurin Funeral Home in Clayton, NC. In

lieu of flowers, please consider giving to the

SPCA of Wake County in honor of Melinda’s

love for animals.

https://donate.spcawake.org/give/403088/#!/

donation/checkout