Source: https://www.edwardsmcleighton.com/notices/Edwards-Whatley

Edwards Whatley
January 3, 1923 - July 19, 2015 (age 92)

Dr. Edwards Clayton Whatley, age 92, died peacefully in his sleep in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 19th in Rome, GA. Funeral services will be held Friday, July 24th at 11AM at First Baptist Church of Reynolds. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6PM -9PM Thursday July 23rd at McLeighton Funeral Service of Reynolds.

Dr. Whatley was born January 3rd, 1923 in Reynolds and was the oldest son of Dr. Clifford and Mary Monk Whatley. He was a 1940 graduate of Reynolds High School and was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Emory University. He graduated from Emory University School of Medicine in 1946, finishing college and medical school in six years. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta Social Fraternity. He served his internship at North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem NC, where he met and married the love of his life, Rosemary Nunn on March 1, 1947. He was an Army Veteran of World War II, serving in Puerto Rico, where he attained the rank of Captain. After his discharge in 1949, Dr. Whatley, Rosemary and their daughter Lynda moved to Reynolds where he began a 46 year medical career serving the people of Reynolds and surrounding areas. He was a partner with Dr. Frank H. Sams, Sr. at Sams-Whatley Hospital until the retirement of Dr. Sams in 1969. Dr. Whatley and Dr. Frank Sams, Jr. were partners until Dr. Whatley's retirement on June 30, 1995. Dr. Whatley was one time saluted in the Macon Telegraph for maintaining a special, personalized “country doctor” image. One reader stated, “His patients are very special individuals to him and he has genuine concern and interest in each one. He is always available when needed and his house calls or hospital visits are often on his own time. He is a doctor with great skill, diagnostic ability, compassion and concern.”

Dr. Whatley was a member of First Baptist Church of Reynolds where he was a long time deacon and former Chairman of the Board of Deacons. He was a founding member of the Reynolds Kiwanis Club and Reynolds Golf Club. He was former Chairman of the Board of Beechwood Schools in Marshallville and was a Mason for over 60 years. Dr. Whatley was previously honored as Grand Marshall of the Taylor County Fall Festival and also as the Grand Marshall of the Georgia Strawberry Festival. At the Strawberry Festival, “Dr. Whatley's Babies” followed him in the parade. He delivered over 2,000 babies during his 46 years as a General Practitioner. He also performed more than a few tonsillectomies, appendectomies, tracheotomies and circumcisions. Dr. Whatley was an avid golfer and dove hunter. He also loved to laugh and would have laughed at the mention of circumcisions in his obituary.

He was preceded in death by parents and his wife of 60 years, Rosemary Nunn Whatley. Survivors include four children, Lynda Whatley Armona of Sparta, NJ., Dr. James C. Whatley (Lynn) of Rome, Nancy Whatley Oliver (Gary) of Woodstock and Dr. Susan Whatley Marlatt (Andy) of Branford CT.; four brothers, William H. Whatley of Atlanta, Julian M. Whatley of Reynolds, Clifford W. Whatley of Mt Pleasant SC and Leonard S. Whatley of Reynolds; nine grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren.

The family suggests donations to the First Baptist Church of Reynolds, P.O. Box 452, Reynolds, GA 31076 or the Montessori Joy Learning Center, 9 West William Wainwright Street, Reynolds, GA 31076 or to The Medical Center of Peach County Emergency Room, 1960 Hwy 247 Connector, Byron, GA 31008.

You may sign the online register at www.mcleightonfuneralservice.com McLeighton Funeral Service of Reynolds is in charge of the arrangements.