Frances Whitley Durham

She was born to the late William Greene Whitley and Mildred Cox Whitley on January 4, 1937, in Rockingham, North Carolina.

Fran was predeceased by her beloved husband of 42 years, Oscar L. “Buddy” Durham, in 2019.

Fran is survived by her five children, Chuck Monroe (Catherine), David Monroe (Beth), Stephanie Monroe Gardiner, Beth Monroe Barber (Thomas), and Paige Monroe Pruitt (Daniel). Fran is also survived by her seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Sarah Barber Lunsford (Coy) and their children Cara, Nathan, and Ryan; Katie Barber (fiancé Sam); Katherine and Thomas Gardiner; and Whitley, Hart, and Alden Monroe. She is also survived by her sisters, Dianne Callahan and Jane Lee (Ted), and a brother, Don Whitley (Marissa), and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, William Whitley, and her sister, June Whitley Flaherty.

Fran was raised in a close-knit family of six children and raised five children of her own. Her family was the most important part of her life and her highest priority. Fran loved spending time with family and particularly cherished her time with her grandchildren.

Fran attended Pfeiffer College, graduated from High Point College, and received a master’s degree in education from Appalachian State University. She taught in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system for 25 years before retiring.

Fran was an avid snow skier and tennis player in her younger years and loved family vacations to Snowshoe Mountain and Hilton Head Island and Holden Beach. In her later years, she became a skilled artist, painting a variety of different landscape, portrait, and still-life subjects. Fran loved gardening throughout her life and spent time planting in her yard until her last few months.

A service to celebrate Fran’s life will be held at Clemmons Moravian Church, 3560 Spangenberg Avenue, Clemmons, NC, on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.