William Russell “Richard” Whitaker Jr., age 89, of Cornelia, Georgia, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, at his home surrounded by members of his family and friends.
Known affectionately as “Coach Whit,” Mr. Whitaker was born Jan. 4, 1929, in Albany, Georgia, to William Russell Whitaker and Eugenia Henderson Whitaker. He graduated from Albany High School in 1948, where he was a standout football player and played for the 1948 Georgia High School All-Star Team. He received a football scholarship to Newberry College, where he earned a degree in education. He was a Marine Corps veteran and an avid outdoors-man, who loved to hunt, fish, and work in his garden.
Mr. Whitaker was a career educator and spent 29 years as a teacher and athletics coach, mostly in Habersham County. He was a longtime defensive football coach at South Habersham and Habersham Central high schools. He also served as the head football coach at Patterson, Truetlen County, and Wilcox County high schools. He is a member of the Habersham County Football Ring of Honor and was a longtime member of the Optimist Club.
Mr. Whitaker was married for 61 years to Laura Jane Jenkins Whitaker, until her death in 2013. He is survived by a sister, Susie Whitaker Hill of Baltimore, Maryland; a son and daughter-in-law, Frederick “Freddy” Whitaker and Sandra Black Whitaker of Toccoa; a daughter and son-in-law Stella “Tootsie” Whitaker Price and David Price of Cornelia; and three grandchildren: Benjamin Whitaker (Kimberly) Price of Savannah, Annie Whitaker (Justin) Craig of Toccoa, and Jane Marie Price of New York.
The family will receive visitors from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 13, at McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home in Cornelia. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the charity of one’s choice.
An online guest register is available at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia (706-778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.
