Polly Whitley

Polly Annell Marks Whitley known to grandchildren and great grandchildren as Mimi died peacefully at home on Friday, March 14, 2025. She was 97 years old.

A Celebration of Life Service will be Thursday, March 20, 2:00 PM, at Fremont United Methodist Church. Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery, Fremont. The visitation will be at the church Wednesday, 7:00-8:30 PM.

Polly was a fourth generation native of Apalachicola, Florida, the only daughter of the late Charles Aubrey Marks and Florine Robbins Marks. After graduating from Chapman High School in Apalachicola she entered Huntington College in Montgomery Alabama for two years. She transferred to Florida State College for Women and graduated with a BS in the first class to have Florida State University on the diploma, in 1948.

In the summer of 1948 Polly met Lamont (Monte) Whitley and they never let each other go. On November 25, 1950 they were married. They lived 70 happy years in Fremont NC. Monte died January 3, 2021. Her married life was spent as a faithful wife, homemaker, mother and bookkeeper for the family farm while enjoying her extended family, friends, church and community. She wanted to be known as ‘dependable’ and she was.

Polly faithfully attended and supported Fremont United Methodist Church. She served on various committees and was a member of the church for 74 years. She was a dedicated member and supporter of the United Methodist Women, serving as president, treasurer and circle leader. On the district level she served as treasurer.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son in law, Julian B. Nelms; brother, Charles A. (Charlie) Marks and sister-in-law, Sandra Marks.

She is survived by her daughter Gwynne of Fremont and her children, Boyd Nelms and Lee Nelms of Fremont, and Ashley Nelms Smith (Adam); and their children, Aubrey Claire Smith and Avery Gray Smith of Grantham; son and daughter in law Dr. H.L. ‘Whit’ Whitley, Jr. and Candice Irvin Whitley of Washington, NC and their two sons; Wyatt Stewart Whitley (Kori); and their children, Charlie Wynn Whitley and Wells Stewart Whitley of Greenville NC, and Benton Marks Whitley of Brooklyn, NY; nephew, C.A. “Chuck” Marks (Nina) and family of Apalachicola FL.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fremont United Methodist Church, Whitley Capital Improvement Fund, PO Box 147 Fremont NC 27830 or to United Methodist Church of Apalachicola, PO Box 476 Apalachicola FL 32329.

The service will be livestreamed via the church website at Fremont United Methodist Church Facebook and YouTube Channels beginning at 1:50 PM: https://www.facebook.com/FremontUnitedMethodist/ or https://www.youtube.com/@fremontumc27830/

Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Dr. N, Wilson, 252-237-7171; www.wilsonmemorialservice.com