James Oswald Whitley, 81, of Ocilla, Georgia, passed away the evening of Friday, February 26, 2021, at PruittHealth-Ocilla after a battle with bladder cancer. Burial will be private.
Born June 4, 1939, in Berrien County, he was the son of the late Jimmie Whitley and late Mollie Sirmans Whitley. He spent most of his career working with the highway center line crew of the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Oswald was a very spirited personality, who loved God, his family, his country, and gospel music. He especially enjoyed spending time with his life-long friend Ronn Miller and his wife Anne, of Fitzgerald. He enjoyed their fishing trips, canning vegetables together, cooking for family get-togethers, and visiting his cat, Miss Kitty, now living with the Millers.
Oswald was preceded in death by one brother, Forrest Whitley and three sisters, Evelyn Sturgis, Mary Frances Minthorn and Audrey Sumner.
He is survived by his brother Dal-Jean Whitley of Charleston, South Carolina; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Betty Pollard of Lakeland, Florida and Lyndia and Glenn Pierce of Eatonton, Georgia; and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express their appreciation to PruittHealth Hospice-Cordele, PruittHealth-Ocilla and Heritage Care Home in Ocilla.