Ann B Whitaker

Ann Blankinship Whitaker, 68, of McGehee, Ark., passed away Friday, March 02, 2012, at McGehee Desha County Hospital. "Mrs. Ann" was a member of the First Baptist Church where she served on numerous boards and committees. She also taught Sunday school for over twenty years and led GA's. She graciously opened her home to numerous church groups from around the country. She was active in the community and a founding member of the Desha County Red Cross chapter. She volunteered with Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief with whom she most recently traveled during this past summer to Minot, ND. She had a passion for the McGehee Food Pantry and was instrumental in the formation of their Home Delivery Program. Mrs. Ann loved to swim and swam competitively while in school. She taught swimming lessons in McGehee and surrounding areas. She was a former business owner, homemaker, and helpmate, working alongside her husband managing the family farm. Mrs. Ann was born in Warren, Ark., on April 14, 1943. Her parents were W. Curtis Blankinship, Sr., and Alleen Lewis Blankinship. She graduated from Warren High School and attended Henderson State Teachers College. Survivors include her husband of 48 years, James E. Whitaker; sons, Jim (Lesli) Whitaker of McGehee, Ark. and Sam (Alicia) Whitaker of Monticello, Ark.; and daughter, Suzanne (Lance) Waters of Little Rock, Ark.; brother Curtis Blankinship, Jr. and wife Brenda of Warren, Ark., sister-in-law Vicki Whitaker and husband Paul Brawner of Midlothian, Texas. "Gigi" had seven grandchildren: Jessica Whitaker, Scott David Whitaker, John Arthur Whitaker, Harrison Whitaker, Brittney Waters, Whit Waters and Grayson Waters. Memorials may be made to McGehee Food Pantry, P.O. Box 903, McGehee, Ark. 71654 or to McGehee-Desha Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 351, McGehee, Ark. 71654. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday March 5, 2012 at First Baptist Church of McGehee, Ark. Burial will follow at Tillar Cemetery. On-line guest book may be signed at www.griffinculpepper.com.