Extracted from The Clarion Ledger (Jackson, MS)
Thursday, May 7, 2009

Bobby Whittington

Bobby Joe Whittington of Statesboro, GA and Hazlehurst, MS passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2009, at St. Joseph -- Candler Hospital in Savannah, GA following a lengthy illness.

Visitation will be 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2009, at Stringer Family Funeral Home in Hazlehurst. Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Stringer Family Chapel with burial in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery. Stringer Family Funeral Services in Hazlehurst is handling arrangements.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Armon, Sr. and Mamie Heard Whittington; two brothers, Armon Whittington, Jr. and Billy Ray Whittington; and one sister, Mary Cola Whittington.

Bobby was born in Hazlehurst, MS on September 9, 1935. He attended school and graduated from Hazlehurst High School in 1953. He attended Copiah-Lincoln Jr. College, where he played football.

In 1959, Bobby began a lifetime of working in the lumber industry, with his first job at Graves Lumber Company. When Graves was purchased by Edward Hines Lumber Company of Chicago, Ill, he worked himself up with the company and became the southern division manager. He then worked in the lumber industry in Eufaula, AL and Natchez, MS, before beginning a career with Louisiana-Pacific Corporation in Alexandria, LA. He ended his career at the LP plant in Statesboro, GA, where he retired in 2000.

Without a doubt, his favorite pastime was football, and he loved to talk to his kids about college and professional teams. In Statesboro, GA the home of Georgia Southern University, he was an avid Golden Eagle fan -- tailgating, attending games and practices, as well as booster club events.

In his younger years, he was an avid golfer, cattleman and horse owner. He was a dedicated member of the Dixie National Booster Club and always made the annual trip to the Dixie National Rodeo. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hazlehurst.

He is survived by his wife of almost 25 years, Brenda Goza Whittington of Statesboro, GA; daughter, O'Hara Whittington Koerber of Brandon, MS; son, Hal Whittington (Jennifer) of Hazlehurst, MS; son, Joe Whittington of Hazlehurst, MS; and daughter, Mary Ellen Whittington of Statesboro, GA; six grandchildren, Nick Ivy of Maricopa, AZ, Mary Katherine Koerber of Starkville, MS, Sims Koerber of Brandon, MS, Caroline Whittington, Claire Whittington and Patrick Whittington, all of Hazlehurst.

Pallbearers will be Armon Whittington, III, Paul Whittington, Todd Druery, Nick Ivy, Sims Koerber, and Jimmy Goza.