Franklin Elmore Handy attended Emory and Henry College, where he was on the 1915 football team, and the Medical College of Virginia. He served as a lieutenant in World War I in Gen. Leonard Wood's Division. Dr. Handy started practicing medicine at Toms Creek in 1923 as a company doctor for the Virginina Iron Coal & Coke Company. He was transferred to Inman, near Appalachia, around 1928 and went into a partnership in the Appalachia Hospital with Dr. W.B. Peters, and later went into private practice. He was a loved and respected doctor in Appalachia, VA. for 50 years before retiring in 1973. He and Dr. Peters had charge of the Appalachia Masonic Hospital, which was next door to the Handy home. He also served as president of the Wise County Medical Society. He received the Robbins Award as Rural Doctor of the Year in 1965 from the Virginia Medical Society. "In the typical tradition of the true country doctor, he has faced the elements at all hours of the day and night to minister to patients even in the remote areas of the county without thought of remuneration." At the time of his death, he was one of the few remaining doctors making house calls.

Dr. Handy served as a member of the Appalachia Town Council for 30 years, and also served a term as mayor. He was a member of the Wise County School Board for 30 years and chairman for 24 years. He was named Wise County's Outstanding Citizen in 1959 in recognition of his service in the field of education. Dr. Handy was a member and past president of the Appalachia Lions Club and a member and past commander of the Appalachia American Legion Post. He served as a commissioner for the city of Appalachia for 20 years. He served as director of the Virginia Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. He was a member of the American Legion's Henry N. Tate Post for 51 years.