Jean Whitaker

Mrs. Jean Whitaker, 91, of Richmond, widow of J.B. Whitaker, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 17, after a long and happy life.

Jean was born in Estill County, to Sherman & Cordelia Crawford on Aug. 20, 1933, the youngest and last surviving of four siblings. During high school, she was a drummer with the School Band. She and J.B. Whitaker started dating after his aunt persuaded him to ask Jean for a date – they married soon after her graduation. While J.B. was serving in the Navy, they moved to several locations, including Massachusetts, where they started a family. After his service, the family returned  and lived in Irvine, Mayfield, Winchester, and finally Richmond.

Jean was active in many churches through the years and was one of the founding members of White Hall Baptist Church along with J.B. She used her gifts for crafting and sewing to make wedding dresses for her daughters and others, create quilts as part of the Comforters for Christ ministry to the Sunrise Children’s Home and serving as the head costume lady for White Hall’s Living Nativity cast for many years. She also helped with the nursery, VBS, and any other place else the church needed a hand.

In addition to her parents and husband, Jean was preceded in death by her oldest daughter, Beth Van Winkle, and son, Steve Whitaker.

Survivors include: her daughters, Holly (Will) Sharp & Allison (William) Prather; son-in-law, Artie Van Winkle; daughter-in-law, Debby Whitaker; 13 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Jean also leaves a host of friends (including her very special friend, Karen Kelly) who knew her for her kindness, humor, and love that was always plain to see.

Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday, April 25, at the Combs, Parsons & Collins Funeral Home, W. Main St., Richmond.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.,m. Saturday, April 26, at the funeral home with Rev. Clint Walker officiating. Burial will follow in the Richmond Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be: Jacob Van Winkle, Corey Whitaker, Thomas Hudson, Daniel Prather, Samuel Prather, Michael Hardy, and Mark Hardy.

Honorary Pallbearers will be: Butch Hardy, Pepper Hardy, and Karen Kelly.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Dominion Assisted Living and Katy Overberg, APRN, for the care and support shown to Jean and her family.