Essie A. Whitley

Sept. 7, 1908 – July 2, 2015

 

Mrs. Essie Rebecca Alligood Whitley, age 106, a resident of Washington, died Thursday, July 2, 2015, at Rivertrace Nursing Home.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 6, 2015, at Mother of Mercy Catholic Church and will be officiated by Father Brendon Buckler. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery. Royce Whitley, John Mark Whitley, Michael Whitley, David Whitley, Jeff Whitley, Tim Lurvey, and Will Lurvey will serve as pallbearers.

The family received friends from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday, July 4, 2015, at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington.

Mrs. Essie was born in Beaufort County on Sept. 7, 1908, to the late Levin Farrow Alligood and Sarah Adelaide Congleton. She attended Piney Grove School. From the age of 12 until her 21st birthday she played organ at Asbury United Methodist Church. On Sept. 7, 1929, their shared birthday, Mrs. Essie married Charlie A. Whitley, who preceded her in death on Feb. 27, 1948. Shortly before become a widow at the age of 39, she converted to Catholicism in 1941. She held her family together being a single mother and never holding a public job, with the help of her church, several friends, family members and her community. She instilled in her children and grandchildren the importance of education, she even taught her own husband how to read and write, so much so that three of her children graduated college and many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren graduated college. She loved education, but even more she loved to pray. Mrs. Essie was a housewife who never drove a car a day in her life, put three children through college, and still never lost faith.

Survivors include three children, Michael F. Whitley of Washington, Joseph M. Whitley of Archdale, NC, and Esther M. Whitley Quinn and husband Harold of Poquoson, Va., 14 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, one sister-in-law Lucy Mae Alligood of Washington, two daughter-in-laws, Athalia Whitley of Hampstead, NC, Sue Whitley of Gloucester, Va., many nieces and nephews, and several special friends.

In addition to her husband Ms. Essie is preceded in death by four children, Philip R. Whitley, John M. Whitley, Emanuel Whitley, Charles Whitley; two brothers, Huel Alligood, Bardon Alligood; four sisters, Levada Smith, Kathleen Burroughs, Edith Lilly, Norma Waters; one grandchild, Valerie Elaine Whitley; and two daughter-in-laws, Betsy Mills Whitley and Frances Flemming Whitley.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to the Mother of Mercy Building Fund at 112 W. Ninth St., Washington, NC 27889.

Condolences may be made to the family online by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Whitley family.