TownTalk Tribute to Dr. Franklin Mills
HENDERSON- Dr. John Franklin Mills, age 61, a resident of Henderson died Monday, July 27, 2015 at his home. Born April 30, 1954 in Vance County, he was the son of the late Dr. Randolph Dennis Mills and Marion Callaway Mills. He graduated from Wake Forest University and Bowman Gray School of Medicine.
Dr. Mills was a well respected family physician at Duke Primary Care of Henderson, formerly Henderson Family Medicine. He loved his patients and had continued to make house calls until the day before his death. He was a member of The First Baptist Church of Henderson, NC where he served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 1:00 PM at First Baptist Church by Dr. Ronald S. Cava. He is survived by his wife, Janet Thigpen Mills of the home; his son, Benjamin Bryan Mills of Charlotte; his daughter, Taylor Callaway Winters and husband, Jeremiah of Richmond, VA; two sisters, Jane M. Hicks and husband, David and Kathy M. Williams and husband Paul of Henderson; his father and mother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Thigpen of Williamston, NC; brother-in-law, Joel Thigpen and fiance Pam Kirks; sister-in-law, Jenny Thigpen; four grandchildren, Henry Lawrence Winters, Callaway Robert Winters, Mills Bryan Winters and Lindley Corrine Winters; and an aunt, Hallie Frank Mills Pegram, of Henderson. He was preceded in death by his brother, Randolph D. Mills, Jr.
The family received friends following the service in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church on Wednesday and at other times were at the home. In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to First Baptist Church, Henderson, PO Box 75, Henderson, NC 27536 or Boys and Girls Club of North Central North Carolina (BGCNCNC-Vance Unit), PO Box 176, Oxford, NC 27565.
Date of Death: Monday, July 27, 2015
Arrangements for Dr. John Franklin Mills by J.M. White Funeral Home of Henderson.
Henderson 6th Annual Ducky Derby & Festival
On August 29, 2015 Smart Start of Franklin Granville Vance Partnership will be holding its 6th annual Ducky Derby and festival on Breckenridge Street in Henderson, NC. The festival will feature food and non-profit vendors, games and rides for kids, library events including a book giveaway, SAFEKIDS car and safety seat check, as well as live music from both local bands and high school drum lines. The festival itself, held between the police station and library, will run from 10am until 2pm, at which point the Ducky Derby will commence on Garnett Street amid cheering participants and on-lookers wearing the Ducky Derby signature duck hats and blasting out a mighty “quack” from bill shaped duck calls.
A large concrete mixer courtesy of Greystone Concrete Inc. will be filled with 500 gallons of water and 
several thousand rubber ducks. Once released, the ducks will float down the street towards the finish line. Those in attendance who are participating will watch their ducks race for the win in hopes of clenching one of the several cash prizes being awarded to the first, second, third and final duck to cross the finish line. The prizes awarded are as follows:
First duck to cross the line: $1000
Second duck to cross the line: $500
Third duck to cross the line: $250
Last duck to cross the: $100
At the end of the race, a prize of 52 Chick fil A meal tickets (free Chick fil A for a year) will be awarded at random to a participant in attendance.
Ducks can be purchased at $5 a piece or in a “Quack Pack” (6 ducks for $25) or a “Flock” (25 ducks for $100) and are available either by calling FGV Partnership or can be claimed at one of the following businesses participating in the event:
Easy Car Care
State Employees Credit Union
Dot’s Hallmark
Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce
Tickets can also be purchased at the festival and derby itself. Proceeds for the event will go to fund Smart Start, a non-profit volunteer program dedicated to providing access to health services for children as well as an education and literacy program designed to aid children ages 0-5 in preparation for attending school.
For more details or to be a participant in the event you can call the FGV Partnership at 252-433-9110. You can also call this number if you would like to be a vendor or sponsor of the Ducky Derby, just ask for Gary.