Delbert Leroy Jolley, 90, formerly of Franklin passed away peacefully on Saturday March 28, 2026 at his home in Hope Mills, North Carolina.

Born on March 13 , 1936 at home during a blizzard in Franklin, he was the son of Orrin Delbert and Florence Mable (Morris) Jolley

Nicknamed Delroy he started work as a young man at Isalys' Dairy in Franklin and managed a store in Butler for several years until he was drafted into the Army where he was a Morse code operator.

After his Military service he worked for Country Bell as a Delivery driver aka, your local Milkman, for years Del could tell you the street address and who lived there, he did that for several years until he started working for the Continental Can Company in the shipping & receiving department until retirement.

After retirement Del enjoyed history, bird watching, sketching and painting. He was a lifelong Steeler fan and lived by if you didn't have anything good to say about someone don't say anything at all. He also liked to say getting old is not for the weak.

On May 3 1985 Delbert married Betty Beggs and she preceded him March 25, 2020.

Surviving are six children; Darrel and Heather Jolley of Hope Mills, NC, Scott and significant other Judy of Charleston SC, Mike and Becky Jolley of Wells, ME, Dana and David Garcia of Columbia TN, Debbie Chrispen and significant other Mike of Dempseytown, Jennifer Jolley of Franklin; five step children; William Hughes of Oil City, Richard and Diana Hughes of Colorado Springs Colorado, Terry Hughes of Oil City, Larry and Carla Hughes of Oil City and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by step daughter Tina Miller, and granddaughter Brittany Chrispen; brother William Bill Jolley; sisters Charlotte Maxine Foster and Elizabeth Betty Dean.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Huff-Guthrie Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., 312 West Park St. Franklin where family and friends are welcome on Monday, April 6th from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M. 

A funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel on Tuesday, April 7th at 11:00 A.M. 

Del will receive full military honors rendered by the V.E.T.S Honor Guard. 

Interment will follow at Franklin Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the Family request donations be made to your local humane society.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting huffguthrie.com.