GREENVILLE – Harry Walton Whitley, Jr. of Greenville, NC, 62, died peacefully on August 28, 2011, at East Carolina Heart Institute. A native of Murfreesboro, he was born on June 11, 1949 to Harry Walton ‘Pete’, Sr. and Lucille Woodard Whitley. He was preceded in death by his father.
Mr. Whitley served in the North Carolina National Guard and attended Chowan College. He was a graduate of North Carolina Wesleyan College and obtained his Masters Degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Mr. Whitley was employed in the area of public health during his entire professional career, most recently as an Environmental Health Specialist. He was a life member of the Eastern District Public Health Association, and served as president. He was the recipient of numerous awards in the public health arena.
Mr. Whitley was very active in the Democrat Party, following in his father’s footsteps. He was president of the Hertford County Young Democrats Club, Chairman of the Hertford County Democrat Party and served as Vice President of the North Carolina Young Democrats Club. He was the county/area ‘key’ for several Democrat candidates over the years including North Carolina Lt. Governor Bob Jordan. He was a Master Mason, member of the Crown Point Masonic Lodge #708 AF & AM, Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 149, and a Shriner.
Harry was an accomplished, award-winning marksman and enjoyed shooting sporting clays and skeet. He was an avid duck hunter and also enjoyed fishing, especially with his family members.
Mr. Whitley is survived by his mother; devoted wife, Becky, of the home;
a son, Harry Walton ‘Pete’ Whitley, III and wife Corrie of Wilmington, NC; siblings Randolph ‘ Randy’ Woodard Whitley and wife Cheryl of Murfreesboro and sister, LuAnn Whitley Joyner and husband Don of Ahoskie; grandson Jacob Alexander Whitley; stepdaughter Allison Hester DeVore and husband Steven of Charlotte, NC; niece Amanda W. Brett and husband Ian of Kernersville, NC; nephew Wingate Gordon ‘Win’ Joyner, III of Knoxville, TN; niece Elizabeth Lucille Whitley Joyner of Ahoskie; and many friends and hunting and fishing ‘buddies’.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, August 30 at the Garrett-Jones Funeral Home in Ahoskie from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be on Wednesday August 31, at 11:00 a.m. at Murfreesboro Baptist Church with the Reverend Lee Canipe officiating. The grave side service will follow the funeral at Riverside Cemetery with full Masonic Rites. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford, 600 College Street, Oxford, NC 27565; Murfreesboro Baptist Church, P. O. Box 124, Murfreesboro, NC 27855; or the charity of one’s choice.
Garrett-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
I respect this entire family and knew Harry while growing up in Murfreesboro.Dennis and I will miss you. …Isaac
Harry,
You were a gentleman and friend when needed. YOu were a great pal to hunt with along with being my fraternal brother…God speed.
Dear LuAnn and family, My heart goes out to you all. It is so painful to watch someone fade away but at least we know that they are in a place with no pain. Maybe he will get with your Dad and mine and talk about fishing. Hang in there, Love from all my family
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
To Becky and the rest of Harry’s faimiy, he will suffer no more. He had been thru a lot the last five or six years.
Knew Harry from lodge meetings. I am PM and PDDGM from Ayden Lodge #498.
Becky and family. I am sassen with the passing of Harry. I came to know Harry from Dare County Health Dept. He was always the person at EDNCPHA that you could go to with any questions and knowledge of what was going in. He will be missed by so many. He has friends all over NC and beyond. When speaking of his family he always spoke with pride. He enjoyed his service with the health profession and life itself. God speed and knowing others share in your lose helps you at this time. We know that he is probably talking with Charlie Jackson, telling some kind of joke……Take care
Eastern North Carolina is a healthier place to live, work, and visit because of the numerous public health contributions by my friend Harry. I will continue to cherish the times we worked (& played) side by side in tackling some of the most challenging environmental health issues. His time on Earth was well spent.
My condolences to Becky, Pete, family and friends.
I will never forget you Harry
My condolences to Harry’s family. Harry was a true public health professional with an awesome sense of humor. He will be missed.