CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR 
 
Sunrise: January 25) 1923 
 
Sunset: February 3) 20 14 
 
0~ &e6ltuoltfl tf, 2014 
11:00 'ti.GJn. 
Providence l\1issionary Baptist Church 229 5 Benjamin E. Mays Drive 1\tlanta, Georgia 30311 
Reverend Damon P. Williatns, Ph.D, Pastor 
 
 Virginia I<.atherine Tillman 'W11atley led a bountiful life enriched by the beauty of her lifelong committnent to her family, church and comtnunit:y. Born into a prominent Atlanta family that held high standards for scholastic achievement and civic responsibility, she enjoyed a professional career as an educator and \Vas married for 52 years to the love of her life, Charles Raven Whatley, Sr., a building contractor and church deacon, from ~filner, Georgia. Virginia was undoubtedly destined to become a teacher. Her father, Dr. Nathaniel P. Tillman, Sr., \vas 
an English professor at ~1orehouse, \vhere he taught l\1artin Luther l<ing, Jr., and later became Dean of the 
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Atlanta University. Dr. Tillman and his \Vife, Mrs. ]\fattie Reynolds 
Tillman, provided their children, Virginia and Nathaniel "Tic" Tilhnan, Jr., with extraordinary educational 
opportunities despite legal segregation in Atlanta. She attended the premier schools of ()glethorpe Elementary and the Atlanta University Laboratory High School. She graduated from Speln1an College with a BS in Biology in 1944 and obtained her Master's degree in Education from Atlanta University. She later conducted postgraduate work at the University of Iowa. 
She and husband Charles met while she \Vas a student at Spelman and he was a student at J\!Iorehouse College. During \Vorld \Var II, Virginia worked as part of the civilian effort while he senred in the military, stationed at Camp Kilmer in New Jersey. They married October 14, 1944 in New York City and began a lifelong partnership that produced three children: Patricia, K.ay (deceased), and Charles, Jr. 
Upending societal convention of the time, Virginia balanced being a mother and a professional. She launched her teaching career at Oglethorpe Elementary, a private school run by Atlanta University, before establishing a decades-long presence in the Atlanta public schools, teaching the Hun1anities to 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students. 
A 111aster teacher in her craft, voted Teacher of the Year over several years, she designed one of the first Humanities programs for elementary schools in the United States and served on the National Endowment for the Hu1nanities American Memories panel. She was tough and loving, nurturing the minds of generations of Atlanta youth who have gone on to success as adults in various fields. 1,1any remember her as a wonderful teacher and a great champion of all children. 
Upon retirement in 1990, Virginia, with her husband, proceeded to run the food nuntstry at Providence ~1issionary Baptist Church for over twelve years. They \\Tete recognized for their distinguished community service by The Georgia Citizens' Coalition on Hunger. 
Virginia was ahvays surrounded by a constellation of bright shining stars of fatnily and friends. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren adored her and could always count on her presence at every Little League baseball and football gatne, track meet, dance recital, and graduation. She possessed a strength that belied her small frame and was not afraid to speak her mind. She had an outstanding memory honed by a keen observant eye that missed absolutely nothing, including her nieces' uncon1bed hair. She also had a quick, clever sense of hun1or that pierced her observations and opinions. Virginia loved to go for rides in the car, read novels, play cards, finish crossword puzzles, and cheer on the Atlanta Braves, Georgia Tech, and the Falcons. 
Cherishing tbe gift of her life are: her two children, Patricia \Vhatley Showell and Charles Raven Whatley, Jr. (Heather); five grandchildren, Gregory L. Sho\vell, Jr. Qoi), Courtney S. W. Sho-well, Sr. Qaclyn), Ali Whatley, K.ayla Horton and Tyler Horton; seven great-grandchildren, Gregory .L. Sho\\Tell, Ill, Garrett Showell, Grant Sho-well, Gabrielle Sho\vell, Courtney Sho\vell, Jr. ("CJ"), Chloe Sho\veJJ and Carmen Showell; three sisters-inlaw, Grace Hinds, Elvena Tilln1an and Dixie l\1abry; many special nieces and nephews -Janet Turner, VimaJa Tillman, Sylvia Reid, Vera Plun1mer, Paula \Vhatley Matabane, \Varren Whatley, Jr., Lynn Whatley, Sr., Plemon El-Amin, and numerous other relatives and endearing friends. 
 
 PRELUDE PROcr_:,_:ssiONAL 
 
j\1USICAL SELECTION 
 
"Take N1e To The !Zing" 
 
Sis. Janet l\1ilton 
 
SCRIPTURI~ REi\DINGS The Old Testament - Psa!Jns 30 The New Testa1nent -11 Corinthians 5:1-10 
 
Dr. Paula Whatley N1atabane Deacon Julius Milton 
 
PRAYER 
 
Rev. Curtis Echols 
 
MUSICAL SELECTION 
 
"l\1y God Is Awesome" 
 
PMBC Combined Choir 
 
REFLECTIONS 
 
Rev. Dr. Gerald L. Durley, PMBC Pastor Emeritus Sis Renee Walton Crawley, Former Student I1nam Plemon El-Amin, Family 
Deacon Pat Whatley Showell and Charles R. Whatley, Jr., Children 
 
OBITUARY (Read Silently) 
 
"How Great Thou .i\rt" 
 
MUSICAL SELECTION 
 
"We Shall Behold Him" 
 
Sis. Rosalyn \Vhatley Lumpkin 
 
EULOGY 
 
Rev. Damon P. Willia1ns, Ph.D, Pastor 
 
ACI<NOWLEDGl\1ENTS 
 
RECESSIONAL 
 
"When \YJe All Get to Heaven" 
 
POSTLUDE 
 
INTERMENT Westview Ce1netery 1680 Ralph D. Abernathy Blvd, SW Atlanta, Georgia 30314 
RI~P 1\ST 
Providence Missionary Baptist Church 
 
. 
 
    Remember me when I am gone awqy, Gone far awqy into the silent land; 
Whenyou can no more hold me by the han~ 
Nor I ha!f turn to goyet turning stqy. 
Remember me when no more, dqy l?J dqy, 
You tell me of ourfuture thatyou planned; 
On!J remember me, You understand it will be late to counsel then orprqy. 
Yet ifyou shouldforget mefor a while 
And aftenvards remember, do notgrieve, 
For if the darkness and corruption leave A vestige of the thoughts that once I ha~ 
Better l?J faryou shouldforget and smile 
Than thatyou should remember and be sad ~ Christina G. Rossetti. 
The family of the late Virginia Whatley would like to express our sincere appreciation for the 1nany prayers, telephone calls, visits, 
and kind deeds shown during our time of bereavement. May God bless each of you. 
 
 Gregory Showell, III Garrett Showell Grant Showell Tyler Horton 
 
\~7arren \~hatley, III Lynn \Xr7hatley, Jr. Jamin W11atley 
Detnetryce Holloway 
 
Lynn Whatley, Sr. Warren Whatley,Jr. 
Plemon El-Amin Carson Wbatley Carlton Plun1mer 
Chris Reid Courtney Showell, Jr. 
 
Eric Whatley Rico Wheeler Dennis Turner K~evin 1\1cDonald 
Mike Reid Fared El-Atnin 
Ali \X1hatley 
 
Members, Board Of Deaconesses Providence Missionary Baptist Church 
 
Janet Turner Denise Turner Donise Turner Dawn Turner Dorian Turner Deidre Turner Johnson C;inger Plutntner J(ayla Horton Vimala Tilltnan 
 
Sylvia Reid Vera Plummer Paula Matabane l\fashadi 1v1atabane Fatima El-\tnin c;abrielle Showell Chloe Showell Cannen Sho\vell IZeisha l'v1cDonald 
 
Services Entrusted To: Carl Williams Funeral Directors, Inc. 404.522.8454 
Darryl Allen's PLUS 404.755.0965