Dr. J. Walker Whittle
Henderson, TN: James Walker Whittle, age 96, died Saturday afternoon, September 2, 2017 at Jackson General Hospital.
He was born July 6, 1921 in Wilcox County, Georgia, the son of the late Wesley Coleman and Mattie Lou Cole Whittle. He graduated from Pitts High School and entered the United States Navy and served in the CB’s building three bomber airfields overseas during World War II. After the service he married Louise Cobb in 1945. He entered Mercer University and received a Master’s Degree in Economics; afterwards he received a degree in Law from Macon University. He also received an MBA from Vanderbilt School of Education, an MBA from the University of Mississippi, and then his Doctorate in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Mississippi.
He started his teaching career at Freed-Hardeman College in the fall of 1954. While there he taught in the business department and studied in the Bible Department to become a preacher. While at Freed-Hardeman he served as chairman of the Department of Business, Vice-President under G. K. Wallace, and returned to teach in the Business Department as the Chairman of the Business Department for twenty-seven years. He then became President of Alabama Christian University (now Faulkner University) where he served fourteen months. He returned to Freed-Hardeman as Vice-President, later as Director of Alumni Services, and then Director of congregational contacts until his retirement in 1990.
He served as pulpit minister at Fraley’s Chapel in Corinth, MS, Wildersville, Enville, Scotts Hill for seventeen years, and Red Walnut for thirteen years. He was currently a member of the Henderson Church of Christ.
He has lead Foreign mission efforts in the European section of Russia, leading fourteen trips. He has also done mission work in South Korea, and participated in work in Southern India.
He was the Founding President of the Henderson Civitan Club and has served in all of its offices for over fifty years.
He was the recipient of the Chester County Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Citizen Award in 2015.
Dr. Whittle is survived by two daughters, Dwina Willis and husband David of Henderson and Rosemary McKnight and husband Gary of Henderson; five grandchildren; Becky Welch, Richard Willis, Chuck Willis, Jonathan McKnight and Jason McKnight, nine great grandchildren; a brother, Charles Whittle of Nashville and three sisters, Jimmie Lou Dixon of Statesboro, GA, Nancy Wilson of Dalton, GA and Jean Ramsey of Nashville. He was preceded in death by his wife Louise Cobb Whittle in 2008 and four siblings.
Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Tuesday at the Henderson Church of Christ with Richard Willis, Jonathan McKnight, and Jason McKnight officiating. Burial will follow at the Henderson City Cemetery with Billy Smith and Roy Sharp officiating.
The family will receive friends at the Henderson Church of Christ Monday evening from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM and Tuesday morning from 9:30 AM until 11:00 AM.
Memorials may be made to the J. Walker and Louise Whittle Scholarship Fund at Freed- Hardeman University.
Shackelford Funeral Directors – Casey Chapel
Henderson, TN
731-989-2421