News Stories & Columns
Dr. J. F. Whisnant of Avondale Dies
J.F. Whisnant was one of R.R. Haynes original “Cliffside” partners. His death notice appeared in The Forest City Courier on Feb. 6, 1936.
Dr. J. F. Whisnant of Avondale Dies
Prominent Dentist And Leading Citizen of High Shoals Dies After Short Illness.
Avondale, Feb. 4. – The Avondale-Henrietta community was shocked and grieved Sunday to learn of the death of Dr. J. F. Whisnant, who has been the local dentist for many, many years. Although Dr. Whisnant had been ill for ten days with a heart ailment, the end came suddenly and painlessly. Everything possible was done for him by medical skill and proficient nurses.
Dr. Whisnant was in his seventy-first year and had lived a long and useful life among us. He was a faithful member and steward of the M. E. church, Avondale, and the church sustains a great loss in his passing.
The funeral was held at the church Tuesday morning at 10:30 and the building was filled to its capacity with sorrowing friends. The lovely special music was rendered by Mesdames J. C. Mills, C. E. Mahaffee, Miss Lucille Wall, Messrs Owens, Finger, Bowers and Huskey. The brief service beautiful in its impressive simplicity was conducted by the following ministers: Rev. H. E. Stimson, Rev. M. W. Heckard, Rev. J. W. Jones, Rev. Mr. Paris, Rev. S. E. Welchel and Rev. Mr. Crowder.
The active pallbearers, who are Stewards of the church, were Messrs Thomas, Frye, Abernethy, Garvin, Christy, Moorehead, Wells and Sprouse. The honorary pallbearers, who are members of the Dental Society, were Doctors McBrayer, McDaniel, Wilkins, of Forest City; Dr. Holland of Caroleen; Dr. Robertson, of Cliffside; Doctors Beam, Peeler, Dixon of Shelby; and Dr. Biggerstaff of Spindale.
The floral offering both unusually large and unusually beautiful was carried by the following ladies: Mesdames Garvin, Harrelson, Hendrick, Fortune, Timmerman, Owens, Smith, Wiseman, Ferree, Ensley, Elmore, McNeilly, Cargill, Sentelle, Misses Elmore, Layne, Ella and Margaret Lynch.
The services were concluded at the grave in Caroleen-Henrietta cemetery. Dr. Whisnant is survived by his widow and the following children: Miss Ostine Whisnant, Laura and James all at home, Miss Lois Whisnant, a nurse at Mt. Sinai hospital, in New York, Mrs. T. C. Lovelace, of Henrietta and Mr. Joe Whisnant, a prominent young lawyer, of Shelby, also by two granddaughters, Martha Jane and Carolyn Lovelace.
Owing to the friendly and cheerful disposition of Dr. Whisnant we cannot and will not think of him as dead, but as “just away”‘ and he will live on in the hearts of us all.
Researched by James Harris