Raiford Whittington

Raiford Whittington, 80, of Gloster, died Oct. 19, 1997, at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center.

Visitation is from 6-10 tonight at Brown Funeral Home in Gloster and continues there at 10 a.m. Tuesday until services in the funeral home chapel at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Hugh Lambert officiating. Burial will be in Mary Springs Church of God of Prophecy in the Busy Corner community.

Mr. Whittington was born May 28, 1917, in Amite County. He was the son of the late Hiram Whittington and Melissa Larimore Whittington.

He was a retired carpenter and a member of the Church of God in Gloster, where he served as a Sunday school superintendent for 25 years.

His family described Mr. Whittington as a loving father and husband.

Mr. Whittington was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Trudie Arnold Whittington; one son, R. J. Whittington; one brother, Shelly Whittington; and one sister, Mildred Freeman.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Anna Adotrice Sturdivant Whittington of Gloster; one sister, Geneva Davis of McComb; three daughters, Rae Thomas of Baker, La., Genevie Wilkinson of Liberty and Gloria Lott of Gloster; two sons, Hiram Paul Whittington of Gloster and Thomas Reeves of Rock Hill, S.C.; and 14 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Dr. David Smith, Bryan Smith, Prentice D. Thomas, Ted Whittington, Hank LaFontaine, Danny LaFontaine and James Lott.

Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Smith, Johnny Reeves and the Rev. James Reeves.