Rev James A Whitaker

Reverend James A. Whitaker

Obituary

James Albert Whitaker, the second child and first son of the late Rev. Charles H. and Betty H. Whitaker was born February 17, 1928 in Halifax County, North Carolina.He peacefully entered into eternal rest on October 16, 2009 at the Somerset Court Assisted Care Facility in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

James gave his life to Christ at an early age joining Pleasant Hill Baptist, the family church.

He attended and graduated from Eastman High School and soon after was called to the ministry attending and graduating from Virginia Union Seminary. Rev. Whitaker attended and received his post graduate degree from Bloomfield College and finally received an honorary Doctorate degree from Baltimore Bible College of Baltimore, Maryland. He was the pastor of Gethsemane Baptist Church of Newark, New Jersey prior to retiring and relocating to Littleton, North Carolina.

James was preceded in death, in addition to his two parents, by two wives-the former Lara M. Wilkins and Lola Solomon; one brother-Clarence, and two sons-Charles D., and Robby.

James is survived by four children: James E. (Marie) of Westbury, NY, Helen Y. Solomon of Hilliard, OH, Brenda J (Marvin) Silver of Upper Marlboro, MD, and Bobby Whitaker of Queens, NY; Three sisters-Doris Beverly of Manhattan, NY, Vivian Charleston of Durham, NC, and Lucy Ward (Sam) of Washington, DC, and one brother Dr. Charles C. (Cynthia) Whitaker of Nashville, NC and Rialto, CA. There are thirteen grandchildren-Jeffrey Solomon, Rev. Marvin M. Silver, Ericka Singh, Michelle Solomon-Council, Jason A. Whitaker, Derek M. Silver, Charita N. Whitaker, William T. Solomon, Jonathan A. Whitaker, Ashley L. Whitaker, Brittany M. Whitaker, Timothy M. Whitaker, and Joseph R. Whitaker, four great grand children-Jalen A. Whitaker, Michayahu Council, Jordan Whitaker, and Alexander J. Singh, Stepmother Dorothy Whitaker, two sister-in-laws-Addie L. Edwards (James) and Martha S. Cooper, one brother-in-law William W. Solomon (Eleanor), eleven nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives, friends, and associates.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the Zion Hill Baptist Church c/o the church treasury.

The body will lie in state on Wednesday, October 21, 2009, from 9:30 to 10:45 A.M. at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church prior to the funeral service at 11:00 A.M. conducted by Rev. Nesbit Spurell. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Online condolences may be made to hockadayfs.com.