James Wendell Whitlock

James Wendell Whitlock (90) passed away peacefully on December 29, 2015, at Piedmont Newnan Hospital. A lifelong resident of Newnan, Georgia, he loved and proudly served his family, his community, and his country. He and Elva Allen, the love of his life and source of his strength, were married for 68 years. Born to Winnie Williams and Edward Davis Whitlock on June 10, 1925, Mr. Whitlock was one of eleven siblings who grew up on a large farm on Roscoe Road. He graduated from Newnan High School and joined the US Navy in August 1944. After receiving Seabees training at Camp Peary, Virginia, he was assigned to the crew which planked the USS Tamalpais, a replenishment oiler supplying fuel and water to ships in the Pacific, achieving the rank of coxswain. Mr. Whitlock witnessed history as the Japanese surrendered to the Allies in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. The USS Tamalpais was an escort for USS Missouri, and he watched the ceremony from the highest vantage point aboard. Completing his enlistment as a member of occupation forces in Japan, Mr. Whitlock was honorably discharged in June 1946. A 40 year career was spent in service to the people of Coweta County as Warden of the Correctional Institution and Superintendent of Public Works. His responsibilities included: managing a medium security correctional facility; building and maintaining Coweta’s roads, bridges, culverts, and rights of way; constructing all new county owned properties; assisting with School Board and municipal projects. During his tenure, the “Camp” was cited as a model for institutions of its type. Mr. Whitlock received recognitions throughout his career including: the second ever Man of the Year Transportation Improvement Award from the Georgia Department of Transportation (1982); the position of President of the Georgia Wardens Association (1983); Warden of the Year by the Georgia Department of Offender Rehabilitation (1984); Veteran of the Year by VFM Post 2667 (2007); the Golden Eagle from the Flint River Council Boy Scouts of America (2010). Mr. Whitlock was a Mason, an affiliate of the Peace Officers Association of Georgia, a Charter Director of Bank of Coweta, and had been a member of First Baptist Church Newnan since 1938. An avid and skilled bird hunter and fisherman, he shared his passion for the sport and his respect for nature with his sons, his grandsons, and many young men in the community. The principles of fairness, integrity, honor and respect guided his life. Those who knew him enjoyed his mischievous sense of humor. He is preceded in death by siblings: Verna Whitlock, Lucille Brown (Harvey), Kate Logan (Joe), Paul Whitlock (Louise), Edna Rooks (Harvey), Ed Whitlock (Martha), Dennis Whitlock, and Buford Whitlock; and by his grandson Captain Nicholas Schade Whitlock. Surviving are his wife and their children: Clara Hackney (Ed), Jimmy Whitlock (Clare), Eddie Whitlock (Ame); sisters: Myrtle Jackson and Adell Miller (Carl); grandchildren: Kathryn Duckworth (John), Sarah Schmohl (David), John Hackney (Welby), James Whitlock (Kelli), Ashley Whitlock (wife of Nick), Allen Whitlock, Robert Whitlock, and Ragan Whitlock; great grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Ila Clare and James Whitlock, Shepherd and Clara Schmohl, Annie Duckworth, Shealy and Elsie Hackney; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions are welcomed to: First Baptist Church Newnan – Historic Sanctuary Fund 15 West Washington Street Newnan, GA 30263 or, The Captain Nicholas Schade Whitlock Foundation P. O. Box 146 Newnan, GA 30264 www.whitlockfoundation.com/donations The family will receive friends at the First Baptist Church Newnan on Friday, January 1, 2016, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral is Saturday, January 2, 2016 at 2 p.m. in the old sanctuary of First Baptist Newnan. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Arrangements by McKoon Funeral Home and Crematory (www.mckoon.com).

James Wendell Whitlock

June 10, 1925 - December 29, 2015