Earline Whisenant

Earline Pearson Whisenant, 82, of the Salem Community in Morganton, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009, following a period of declining health. She was born Aug. 2, 1927, in Burke County, and was a daughter of the late John Lee Pearson and Effie Hoffman Pearson. Earline was a member of Burkemont Baptist Church and was a retired employee of Grace Hospital. She is survived by a son, Ronnie Whisenant and his wife, Hattie, of Marion; daughters, Cathy Clemmons and her husband, Jeff, and Betty Norman and her husband, Clyde, all of Morganton; sisters, Faye Lyle and Marian McNeilly, both of Morganton; grandchildren, Mark Whisenant, Emily Foss, Beverly Masencup, Robert Waters, Kyle Clemmons, Garrett Clemmons and John Lee Whisenant; and eight great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Anderson Whisenant; brothers, Doyle, Clyde and Grant Pearson; and a sister, Louise Towery. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at Burkemont Baptist Church with the Rev. Eddy Bunton officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday at the church one hour before the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Burkemont Baptist Church, 4668 Burkemomt Road, Morganton, NC 28655. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.