MURFREESBORO – Lucille Stallings Woodard Whitley, age 91, of Murfreesboro, died peacefully on April 15, 2015 at Creekside Care and Rehabilitation Center in Ahoskie, North Carolina, after a brief illness.

Mrs. Whitley was born in Halifax County, North Carolina on August 6, 1923 to Alvin Arey and Gladys Stallings Woodard.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of almost 65 years, Harry Walton “Pete” Whitley; her oldest son, Harry Walton Whitley, Jr.; and her only sibling, brother Alvin Arey “Bobby” Woodard, Jr.

Lucille was a 1944 graduate of the Rex Hospital School of Nursing (Raleigh, NC). She was a Registered Nurse.  Although she practiced her chosen profession on a limited basis due to hearing loss, Mrs. Whitley was known as an excellent, compassionate, and caring nurse.  She was a devoted caregiver to her husband and all three of her children when each suffered catastrophic illnesses.

Mrs. Whitley was a former member of the Melrose Woman’s Club, The Murfreesboro Garden Club, and Hertford County Democratic Women. She was also a Girl Scout leader. Lucille was an excellent cook and was known for her specialties: fried chicken, potato salad, pimento cheese and coconut pie. She enjoyed being First Mate on Captain/husband Pete’s boats and preparing picnic suppers for family and friends during sunset cruises on the Chowan River.

Lucille was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She enjoyed being a “grade mother” when her children were in elementary school. She was adored by her grandchildren and she loved to baby sit for them and take them on special outings. They knew her as “Muzzer” (“Pete” and Amanda) and “Munda” (Win and Elizabeth).

Mrs. Whitley is survived by her son, Randolph Woodard “Randy” Whitley and wife, Cheryl Jackson Whitley of Murfreesboro; daughter, Lucille Ann “LuAnn” Whitley Joyner and husband, Wingate Gordon “Don” Joyner, Jr.  of Ahoskie; grandchildren Harry Walton “Pete” Whitley, III and wife, Corrie of Wilmington, NC; Amanda Leigh Whitley Brett and husband, Ian of Kernersville, NC; Wingate Gordon “Win” Joyner, III of  Winston-Salem, NC;  and Elizabeth Lucille Whitley Joyner of  Ahoskie and Winston-Salem, NC;  great-grandsons Jacob Alexander Whitley and Ethan Charles Whitley (Wilmington, NC) and Liam Hayes Brett (Kernersville, NC); daughter-in-law, Rebecca “Becky” Jarvis Whitley of Greenville, NC; sister-in-law, Frances Woodard Taylor of Tarboro, NC; and 13 nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the staff at The Village at the Woods Edge for their loving attention to Mrs. Whitley for four and one-half years, and special friends and care-providers Louise Rucker and Teresa Evans.

The family will receive friends on Friday, April 17, 2015, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the Garrett-Sykes Memorial Chapel in Murfreesboro. A celebration of life memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Murfreesboro Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Lee Canipe officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Murfreesboro Baptist Church (200 W. Main Street, Murfreesboro, North Carolina 27855); American Cancer Society/Hertford-Gates Relay for Life (c/o Angie Plaunty, 226 Jernigan Swamp Road, Ahoskie, North Carolina 27910) or the charity of ones’ choice.

Garrett-Sykes Memorial Chapel of Murfreesboro is in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.