1924
Stella
2018
Stella Whitaker
September 30, 1924 — February 25, 2018
Sella Jo Whitaker
Tupelo- Stella Jo Whitaker, 93, died on February 25, 2018 at the hospice unit of North Mississippi Medcal Center in Tupelo. She was born September 24, 1924, in Montgomery City, Missouri to Dr. Darel Wesley and Reba A. Sturgeon Whitaker. She grew up in Coffeeville and Sardis and graduated from Sardis High School. She attended Belhaven University and received a B.A. degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1946, majoring in music. She worked as a teacher in the New York City public school system, teaching fourth through eighth grade for 18 years. In 1962, Jo received a M.A. degree from Hunter College in Manhattan. She moved to the Denver, Colorado area because of her love for downhill skiing. She taught at Rose Hill Elementary School in Commerce City, Colorado for twenty years, until her retirement in 1964. In 2009 she moved to Tupelo to be near her brother, Clyde Whitaker. She was a resident of Traceway Manor from 2009 until her death.
Jo was notoriously independent. She had endless curiosity and broad interests. She loved to explore new places. After college, she traveled to Europe by boat and after landing in Holland, bought a bicycle and cycled through several countries, including Scotland and Norway. She loved needlework, especially embroidery, and attended seminars and classes to learn all twenty types of embroidery. She was a member of the Embroiderer's Guild of America. She studied piano in college and later learned to play the organ, which she brought with her to her apartment at Traceway. She loved books and was well-read on many subjects. Jo was an excellent gardener. She was a member of the Tupelo Rose Society and contributed to the beauty of Traceway Manor with her roses , iris and Japanese maples. Jo was generous and made friends easily wherever she went. She was truly treasured by family, friends and others who knew her.
She is survived by her sister, Barbara Smith of Madison; her sister-in-law, Betty Vance of Southaven; many nieces and nephews; and many dear friends, of whom Patsy Stevens merits special mention.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Mary Alice Broome (Wayne), and Alta Irving (Zach); and four brothers, Mirl Whitaker (Alene), James Whitaker (Joyce), Vernon "Punk" Whitaker and Clyde Whitaker (Dimple).
Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com .
Tupelo- Stella Jo Whitaker, 93, died on February 25, 2018 at the hospice unit of North Mississippi Medcal Center in Tupelo. She was born September 24, 1924, in Montgomery City, Missouri to Dr. Darel Wesley and Reba A. Sturgeon Whitaker. She grew up in Coffeeville and Sardis and graduated from Sardis High School. She attended Belhaven University and received a B.A. degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1946, majoring in music. She worked as a teacher in the New York City public school system, teaching fourth through eighth grade for 18 years. In 1962, Jo received a M.A. degree from Hunter College in Manhattan. She moved to the Denver, Colorado area because of her love for downhill skiing. She taught at Rose Hill Elementary School in Commerce City, Colorado for twenty years, until her retirement in 1964. In 2009 she moved to Tupelo to be near her brother, Clyde Whitaker. She was a resident of Traceway Manor from 2009 until her death.
Jo was notoriously independent. She had endless curiosity and broad interests. She loved to explore new places. After college, she traveled to Europe by boat and after landing in Holland, bought a bicycle and cycled through several countries, including Scotland and Norway. She loved needlework, especially embroidery, and attended seminars and classes to learn all twenty types of embroidery. She was a member of the Embroiderer's Guild of America. She studied piano in college and later learned to play the organ, which she brought with her to her apartment at Traceway. She loved books and was well-read on many subjects. Jo was an excellent gardener. She was a member of the Tupelo Rose Society and contributed to the beauty of Traceway Manor with her roses , iris and Japanese maples. Jo was generous and made friends easily wherever she went. She was truly treasured by family, friends and others who knew her.
She is survived by her sister, Barbara Smith of Madison; her sister-in-law, Betty Vance of Southaven; many nieces and nephews; and many dear friends, of whom Patsy Stevens merits special mention.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Mary Alice Broome (Wayne), and Alta Irving (Zach); and four brothers, Mirl Whitaker (Alene), James Whitaker (Joyce), Vernon "Punk" Whitaker and Clyde Whitaker (Dimple).
Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Stella Whitaker, please visit our flower store.
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