Mrs. Donie Newell Chambliss Whitehead, 100, died Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at Winston County Nursing Home in Louisville. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, May 8th, at Mt. Hebron United Methodist Church, with Rev. Jason Gross and Rev. Becky Smith officiating. Visitation will be Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Porter Funeral Home. Interment will be in Mt. Hebron Cemetery.
Mrs. Donie Newell Chambliss Whitehead, Nonie, was born in the Fernsprings Community in Winston County Mississippi on February 2, 1917 to Clifton Charles Chambliss and Maggie Higginbotham Chambliss. She was the sixth of ten children, Henry, infant, Perline, Lettie Mae, Clara, Margaret, Inez, Elsie and Charles. She was raised on a farm and attended a one room school at the Skillett until the 6th grade. Then, she attended Ellison Ridge High School and graduated in 1935. She was an “excellent” basketball player and tennis player. She was chosen as the best basketball player in Winston County in 1935. Donie loved to dance and especially to Jimmy Rogers music. Donie married her soul mate, Bernard Whitehead, May 25th, 1935 and had two loving daughters, Janice and June. Bernard and Donie lived on the same farm for 56 years and enjoyed farm life. She was a life-long member of the Mt Hebron Methodist Church, where she worked with youth, was a stewart and Sunday School teacher. She was a member of the Eastern Star for over 69 years. The Winstonville Chapter, Noxapater, then, the Louisville Chapter #60. For many years, she was a correspondent to the Winston County Journal. She was a family historian and could quote dates, birthdays and marriages for almost everyone in Winston County. All you had to do was call her, and she knew the answer. She was a member of the Farm Bureau and other community activities. She enjoyed cooking, quilting, canning, freezing, and working with flowers. Her favorite sport was fishing and she loved to sing. Donie’s belief in God was strong and she lived His example to the best she knew how. Donie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. Donie is the last of her generation.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Bernard Whitehead in 1991, her parents, sisters, brothers, a granddaughter, Donna Lanelle Holton in 1966, a grandson, Jeffery Bernard Hurt in 1999, her grandson in law, Tim Pearse in 2009, and her son in law, Morris Hurt in 2015.
Donie is survived by her daughters, Janice W Holton (Harold) of Houston, TX, and June W. Hurt of Rocky Mount, NC; and her grandchildren: Jan Toppass (John) of Houston, TX, Tim Holton (Ellen) of Hightoral, TX, Marcus Hurt (Deannie) of Youngsville, NC, and Margaret Pearse, of Rocky Mount, NC; her great grandchildren: Johnny Toppass of Houston, TX, Josh Toppass of Kingswood, TX, Juston Holton of Cyprus, TX, Michael Hurt of Youngsville, NC, Charlotte Hurt or Franklinton, NC, Mason Hurt of Youngsville, NC, Meagan Pearse of Rocky Mount, NC, Crysta Pearse of Rocky Mount, NC, and Alys Pearse of Raleigh, NC; and 14 great great grandchildren.
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