Funeral services for Mr. Walter O. Whitehead, 83, of Ashburn, GA will be held Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 2:00 PM in the Ashburn First Baptist Church. Mr. Whitehead passed away Monday at Tift Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. Interment will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Ashburn.
The son of the late Mickey Forrest and Kathleen Rabun Whitehead, he was born in Wheeler County, GA and had lived in Turner County since 1959. As a member of the Ashburn First Baptist Church, he was a member of The Gilbert Branch Sunday School class and a deacon. He was a retired farmer and USDA-ASCS District Director. He also served in the US Army. Mr. Walter enjoyed his quail hunting and farming. In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by his first wife, Loretta C. Whitehead.
Survivors include his wife, Ellen Bailey Whitehead, his sons, Allen (Judy B.) Whitehead and Jerry (Judy M.) Whitehead all of Ashburn; his grandchildren, Allison (Stephan) Ray of Tifton, Rebecca Whitehead of Ashburn, Mary (Kenny) Purvis of Cordele and Walt Whitehead of Ashburn. His great grandchildren, Mason and Hunter Purvis of Cordele. His step children, Thomas Edward (Hazel) Fields, Jr of Macon, Sharon Fields (Rick) Bestwick, step-grandchildren, Brittany Bestwick, Corey Bestwick all of Birmingham, AL and Tracy Fields Griffith of Atlanta. Also surviving is his sister, Bonnell Riddle of Alamo, GA.
The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from Six until Eight at Perry Funeral Chapel in Ashburn.