Wesley Thomas “Lightning” Mauldin, 85, of Murphy died Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at Murphy Medical Center. He was a native of Clay County, but had lived most of his life in Cherokee County. He worked for Shields and also drove for Townson Lumber Company for a number of years. He retired in 1990 after 20 years of service for Champion International Paper. At the time of his illness, he was employed at Wells and West, where he had worked for the past 20 years. Lightning was an avid race car fan and was one of the first to race at Tri-County race track.

Wesley is survived by his wife of 59 years, Grace Bowman Mauldin.  To this union, they have four children, Michael Mauldin and wife, Judy of Murphy/Atlanta; Lucy Raoof and husband, Abdus of Atlanta, Ford Mauldin and fiancée, Janora of Johnson City, TN; and Jenny O’dell of St. Augustine, FL; a sister, Frances Nelson of Asheville; four grandchildren, Jermaine Mauldin, Dr. Lindsay Foreman, Wesley O’dell, and Victor Hall; and honorary mention, Derek Kincaid; two great grandchildren; and nephews, nieces, cousins, and many many friends are left to cherish his memory.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 PM Saturday, June 5 in the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with the Revs. Louis Grant, George Kloster, and Javan Harper officiating. Interment was in the Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.  Pallbearers were Thomas Nelson, Robert Grant III, Victor Hall, J.T. Nicely, Wesley O’dell, Darren Foreman, and Derek Kincaid.  Honorary pallbearers were Purcell Todd, Jack Wimpey, Leon Owenby, Al Pratt, Jim Twiggs, Richard Caldwell, Preston Graves, Lewis Moore, and Joe Dorsey.

The family received friends from 11-12:45 Saturday afternoon at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy prior to the services.

The family requests memorials be made in memory of Wesley Thomas “Lightning” Mauldin to the Fort Hembree Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 557, Hayesville, NC 28904.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.