Born the third daughter of John Butler Whitty and Edith Allen Whitty in 1926 on the family farm located east of Lee, Frances Whitty Mercer has deep roots in the Lee community and Madison County. Her sisters and brothers include: Lucile W. Cherry, Muriel W. Turlington (deceased), Gertrude W. Gamble, Bob Whitty and Ben Whitty. She was educated at Lee Junior High School and graduated from Madison High School in 1944. After graduating from Florida State University in 1948, Frances married Raymond Mercer (deceased 1989), who was also of Lee, at the Lee United Methodist Church.
Together, they raised two children, Ramona (m. Rip Prine) and Frank (m. Midge Newbern) on their farm north of Lee. Grandchildren include: Melissa Anderson, Gena Smoak, Grady Guess and Ryan Mercer. Frances also has 11 great grandchildren: Aren, John Mercer, Jackson, Sophia, Olivia, Melissa, Gracie, Haley, Dean III, Abbey and Ethan.
After a 39-year career of teaching in Madison County, Frances retired in 1992. For a few years after retiring, she provided a daycare program for preschoolers of friends and family.
Frances has been active throughout her life in community and church activities. She is a lifelong member of Lee United Methodist Church where she was church treasurer for 41 years. She continues to be an active member of the church finance committee. She is a faithful member of the Lee United Methodist Women and was in charge of the Lee Day Pancake Breakfast for many years.
Frances is also an active member of the Madison FUMC Audrey Newman Circle, Madison County Education Foundation, Gamma Theta Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, Madison County Memorial Hospital Pink Ladies and the Madison County Woman’s Club. She is a founding member of the Friends of the Lee Library, Inc. and a member of the Treasures of Madison County.
Frances continues to live on the Raymond Mercer farm north of Lee where pine trees, grandchildren and dogs are now the major crops.