Mr. Whitaker was employed at Farm Crest Bakery, Detroit, MI in 1945 until he retired in 1980 (Farm Crest is now known as Ward Bakery).
He has four children, Marie R. Whitaker Lassiter (Russell) of Detroit, MI, Barbara J. Whitaker Little (Hurris) of Suffolk, VA, David Whitaker, Jr. (Jacqueline), and Charleen Walker Thomas (Ronald) of Detroit; 14 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren, and 18 great great grandchildren (the fifth generation), brother-in¬¬-law, Roosevelt Walker (Dorothy) of Oak Park, MI, sister-in-law, Pearline Walker of Suffolk; a devoted niece, Vivian Whitaker Russell and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He resided over half of his life in Detroit, until returning to Suffolk, Virginia in 1995. He joined Second Baptist Church in Detroit in 1943 and was a member for 52 years until he returned to Suffolk, VA.
The Whitakers returned to their family church, Healing Chapel Baptist Church in Suffolk, where he remained an active deacon until 2007 when he was made an honorary deacon until his death. His father, Rev. Africa Whitaker, was pastor of that church and served for 52 years (1921-1973). The current pastor, Rev. Morris Almond, Sr., is the great-great nephew of Rev. Whitaker.
A service to celebrate his life and work will beheld Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Healing Chapel Baptist Church, Suffolk. Interment will be at Nansemond-Suffolk Cemetery. Crocker Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
