Strong & Jones Funeral Home, Inc. | Tallahassee, FL

Obituary For Deacon John H Whitaker

John Henry Whitaker

Tallahassee - John Henry Whitaker, 93, went Home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, November 10, 2021.

Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 20, 2021 at the Old West Enrichment Center, with burial at Southside Cemetery.

Public viewing will be Friday, November 19, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at STRONG & JONES FUNERAL HOME.

John Henry Whitaker grew up in Tallahassee and was educated in the public schools of Leon County Florida. He confessed Christ and joined the St. John Missionary Baptist Church at an early age. He later began employment with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. His career spanned over 40 years prior to his retirement. He also enjoyed employment at the BPOE Club, where his love for cooking was intensified. Cooking was his passion and a way to express his love to his family.

John Henry Whitaker was predeceased by his parents, Mrs. Evelyn Battle and Mr. Crosby Whitaker, Sr., daughter, Patricia Whitaker Porter and four siblings, Crosby Whitaker, Jr., Glen Whitaker, Ruby Whitaker, and Joyce Oliver.

Left to mourn his passing and celebrate his homegoing is his wife of 74 years, Estelle R. Whitaker; nine children, Henry (Rosetta) Whitaker of Tallahassee; Charles (Cynthia) Whitaker, Sr. of Thomasville, GA; Alphonso B. (Angela) Whitaker, Margaret A. Whitaker, Norris Whitaker, Byron (Brenda) Whitaker, John (Janice) Whitaker, Jr., all of Tallahassee; Terry (Zina) Whitaker of Albany, GA; and Barry Whitaker of Port Orange, FL.; a brother, Billy Oliver; two grandchildren he helped raised, Sabrina (Reggie) Hall and Mario Whitaker; a host of grandchildren, and other family members and friends.

Posted online on November 17, 2021

Guest Book

To Byron, Mrs. Whitaker and family, I am sorry to learn of the passing of your father & husband I know this is after the fact as I am JUST seeing this however, please know that you and your family have my love and my thoughts and prayers are for peace of mind and comfort for the family. Love Traci Crawford, Lanham, MD

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On behalf of the Rickards High School Alumni Association and Classmates we send our condolences, thoughts and prayers to our classmates the and their mother The Whitaker Family God's blessings to you all. Submitted by Ms. Eustacia "Kitty" Morris-Richardson, Class of 1978 Rickards High School

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You have fought a good fight. You have ran the ran and finished the course. Well done my servant.

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I worked with John Henry for over 20 years at the Florida Dept of Agriculture. He was the most dedicated person I knew there. It was my honor to call him a friend. John, you deserve your rest with the Lord. Robby Pearce

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The Clausell family and the Calvary Baptist Church extend our condolences in the passing of Dea. Whitaker. What a man! He was so faithful to his duties in the 5th Sunday union and his church. What a blessing to have known and worked with him. The whole family is a beautiful family. Blessings to all of you as he will be missed greatly. But thanks be to God for his life that was well lived.

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SO SORRY FOR YOUT LOST MARIO I WILL KEEP YOU AND THE FAMILY IN PRAYERS AT THIS DIFFICULT TIME(EMMA CO- WORKER AT SMG

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Uncle John Henry, it's sad to fathom a world without your tangible smile and the sweet, warm tone of your voice inviting me to converse and share what's going on with me and family and my listening ears to hear how you and auntie are and all the fam. I already miss your loving hugs and your tender call of "Hey Keshia, hey baby, how's everyone? How's your parents? Your brothers and sisters and your grandma Lettie?" You and auntie Estelle are the best audience and the best griots (tellers of oral history) and I always will cherish our times together with each of you and together, whether a moment or moments, they were always filled with plenty love and affection and building up in the Lord. I cherish seeing you lead us at St. John MB in an acapella spiritual or hymn, sitting with auntie eating Werther's original or peppermints. Eating your yummy home made baked cakes and eyeing them on the table when we used to come over after attending church with you two, and being granted slices after eating auntie's loving sausage, ice potatoes and string beans, then playing with Ginger and Cookie. Or the time Taras-Michael and I came by and sat with you all for five hours and soaked up all the gems of stories you all shared while you watched football and auntie sat to your right, and once again, the love between the two of you was so evident, pure and beautiful and Godly as you both told the stories in your own way, yet complementing each other's points. So adoring. I love you both so much or as auntie says "more-er" and I cherish every memory with you uncle. I love you dearly, thank you for always (with auntie) making me feel welcomed, loved, heard and seen. You and auntie are evidence of God's love. I miss you very much. You are missed by all of us, Uncle John Henry. Hugs. Your great-niece, Takeshia Stokes

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MAY LOVE ,SYMPATHY, PRAYERS OF COMFORT AND STRENGTH AND UNDERSTANDING IGNITE A SPECIAL KIND OF PEACE AND LIGHT UNTO UR PATHS THAT ONLY THE FATHER YAHWEH above CAN DO! TRUST HIM THROUGH THIS TIME OF SORROW,PAIN,DISPAIR AND BEREAVEMENT.LEAN ON HIM! AS HE WILL I PRAY & BELIEVE HE 2 B UR FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND .FAMILY, I LIGHT THIS CANDLE IN FAITH, LOVE AND PAIN...TO B YOUR GUIDE ...MY GUIDE AS YOU ..I DO OUR BEST AT EVERYDAY WITHOUT UR LOVE ONE ...MY UNCLE JOHN HENRY. I CARE!❤💞❤💞 RIP UNCLE🪴🕊!I WILL MISS SEEING YOU IN THE STORES, OUR TALKS, HEARING YOUR VOICE ON PHONE WHEN I CALL THE HOUSE TO SAY HELLO ,..2 CHECK ON YALL..OR JUST SEEING YOU, AUNTIE ESTELLE AND NAMYA TOGETHER🥺 💕💕🙏🏽. IT DOESNT SEEM REAL... BUT , YOU I FEEL ,ALTHOUGH BLESSED WITH OVER 90YEARS ...🕊ARE GONE TOO SOON! LOVE YA MUCH💗 LOVE YOU VERY MUCH FAMILY💐💓💞 YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS💘❤❣ ~ Warm Huggs,Love,Protection and Blessings to you! Always ,🦋MeShalle Riley Denmark Stokes🌺🌼🌸🌹🍀

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Our staff will continue to keep your family in our prayers. We thank you for allowing us to serve your family.

- Strong & Jones Funeral Home, Inc. | Tallahassee, FL