Marcella Whitlock

Red is the color of Valentine's Day. Red is the color of Marcella Dee Whitlock! How appropriate that after 91 years of wearing red and loving all people, she died peacefully on February 14, 2009, a day to celebrate Love. Marcella was born September 19, 1917 in Bluefield, West Virginia to the late Daniel Thomas Whitlock and Chattie Verl Motley Whitlock. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Daniel T. Whitlock, her sister, Ernestine Whitlock Oliver, and her step-mother Grace Whitlock. Marcella graduated from Beaver High School in 1935 and graduated from Concord College in 1939. She also enrolled in graduate work at West Virginia University and attended the University of North Carolina. She began her teaching career in a two-room schoolhouse in Springville, VA in 1939. Marcella taught at Ceres School and East End School before going to American University where she trained for the Red Cross. While working for the Red Cross during World War II, she was stationed at the Army Hospital in Fort Story, VA and the U. S. Navy Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Between her Red Cross job and teaching, she also worked at various ladies' stores and Universal CIT in Bluefield, WV. She returned to teaching at Bramwell High School and later taught at Ramsey School and Cumberland Heights School. She retired from teaching in 1979. After she retired she worked with home-bound students and volunteered at Bluefield Regional Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital for 16 years. During Marcella's teaching career, she served on the local level as treasurer and president of Mercer County Classroom teachers and vice-president of Mercer County Education Association. On the state level she was chairperson of several committees, was a member of Professional Rights and Responsibilities Committee of West Virginia Education Association and served a 3-year term on the State Board of Directors of Classroom Teachers. She also served two terms as vice-president of the West Virginia Education Association. Marcella was on the national staff of Alpha Sigma Tau and was the alumna advisor and representative for Omicron Chapter of Alpha Tau at Concord University; president of Bluefield Alumnae Chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority; social sponsor of Lambda Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority; member of Delta Kappa Gamma sorority to teacher educators. She also served every office of Concord University Alumni Association; served as council member of Concord Alumna Association and was the first woman to be named "Alumna of the Year: and was presented a Golden Alumnus Award at Concord. She was selected as "teacher of the year" for Mercer County in 1968. She was awarded the Bluefield, WV Riley Vest American Legion "Citizenship Award" for Post #9 in 1965. She was a lifelong active and faithful member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Bluefield, WV where she served as Bethany Circle leader, Deaconess and board member. She is survived by nephews: Raymond E. Oliver and his wife Frances of Newport News, VA; William F. Oliver "Shank" and his wife Frankie of Tucson, AZ, and Daniel T. Whitlock, III and his wife Sherry of Given, WV; great nieces: Cynthia Oliver Butler, Jeanne Oliver Ray and Kelly Oliver Young; great nephews: Raymond E. Oliver, Jr., William Sutton Oliver, William Franklin Oliver, III, Daniel Thomas Oliver and Joshua Whitlock; great-great nieces: Kim Brooks, Karen Oliver, Kacia Jones, Kelsey Butler, Kyla Ray, Mila Young, India Butler and Madison Oliver; great-great-nephews: Brian Young, Jason Oliver, Scott Oliver, Michael Oliver, Keane Ray, Travis Butler, Brett Butler, William Oliver, IV, Christopher Oliver, Timothy Oliver and Tray Oliver; special friends: Helen Counts, Mary Helen Cornett, Joyce Buchanan, Heber Stafford, Kay Pratt, Charlotte Barham and Rose Kammer. Marcella was grateful to her wonderful caregivers at The Havens, her loving sitters and the staff of Community Hospices of America. Marcella's life will be celebrated on Saturday, February 21, 2009 at a 12:30 p.m. reception followed by a 2 p.m. Celebration of Life service at the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Bluefield, WV. The family requests that all attending wear RED as a reminder of Marcella's shining personality. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Marcella Dee Whitlock Scholarship Fund at Concord University, P. O. Box 1405, Athens, WV 24712, or to the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 2200 Bland Road, Bluefield, WV 24701.

Marcella Whitlock

September 19, 1917 - February 14, 2009