Jessie Whisnant

Jessie "Jim" Whisnant CONNELLY SPRINGS Jessie "Jim" Whisnant, 83, of Connelly Springs, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, at 10:45 a.m. at his residence. Born, June 24, 1929, in Catawba County, he was the son of the late Jessie Whisnant, Sr. and Katie Gilliland Whisnant. Jessie was a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Miller Bridge Rd., Connelly Springs. He was a retired auto mechanic, having worked at Whisnant's Garage, in Long View, for 55 years. He had been in declining health since retirement. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Roscoe and Spurgeon Whisnant, and Carl Whisnant; three sisters, Marie Shaw, Carrie Huffman, and Helen Shufford. He is survived by his wife, Vernice Hawkins Whisnant; one son, Reggie Whisnant and wife, Maelea; one daughter, Tecia Whisnant, of Lenoir; two grandchildren and two step-grandchildren; and sister, Stella Gibson, of Icard. Mr. Whisnant will lie in state at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Miller Bridge Rd., Connelly Springs, Saturday, Jan. 19, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, with Pastor Curtis Carroll, and former Pastor Kenneth Frady officiating. Burial will follow the service at Burke Memorial Park.

Published in The News Herald on January 18, 2013