Extracted from The Taylor County News and The Butler Herald (Butler, GA)
Friday, January 22, 1965

Thurmon Whatley Dies In Reynolds

Thurmon Whatley, a prominent businessman of Reynolds, died in the Sams-Whatley Hospital on Thursday, January 14, following a long illness.

A member of the Reynolds Methodist Church, Mr. Whatley was also interested in the Reynolds Kiwanis Club and the Masons. He had served on the Taylor County Draft Board for 30 years and was a former Taylor County Commissioner and a member of the Forestry Board. Owner of Whatley's Gin and Warehouses in Reynolds, he was also secretary and treasurer of Flint EMC's Board of Directors. Mr. Whatley was the son of the late James Henry and Elizabeth Sa[u]nders Whatley. At his death he was 76 years old.

Funeral services were held in the Reynolds Methodist Church on Friday, January 15, with the Rev. W. W. Whaley, pastor of the church, officiating. He was assisted by the Rev. Bob Whiddon, pastor of the Reynolds Baptist Church. Interment was in Hillcrest Cemetery in Reynolds.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Marian Whatley; one son, Thurmon Whatley Jr.; two daughters, Mrs. L. H. Shaekelford of Atlanta and Mrs. J. R. Booker of Panama City, Fla.; two brothers, Dr. Clifford Whatley of Reynolds and Dr. Clay Whatley of Savannah; and one sister, Mrs. Ben Hinton of Reynolds.

Active pallbearers were Julian Whatley, Dr. Edwards Whatley, Clay Whatley Jr., Billy Whatley, Woodfin Hinton, C. E. Marshall, Charlie Montfort and Walton Hodges Jr.

Honorary pallbearers included B. L. McDaniel, C. F. Hayes Jr., I. F. Murph, L. R. Newberry, Richard Talton, Arthur A. White Jr., Walter D. Whiting, E. W. Johnson, Jeff Pierce and J. W. Patterson, members of Flint EMC's Board of Directors; J. O. Mills, District Manager of Flint EMC's branch office in Warner Robins; Dan S. Beeland, attorney for the corporation; and S. J. Tankersley, Manager of Flint EMC. Other honorary pallbearers were Garland T. Byrd, C. F. Mesurac, Sidney Bryan, Henry Hicks, John Nelson and Walter Forsling.

Goddard Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.