Georgia Levy

(September 25, 1933 - December 11, 2013)

At the commencement of the tenth hour, on the eleventh day of the twelfth month of the thirteenth year, the merciful Lord God called home one of his faithful Georgia Belle Levy; to whom He had blessed with 80 years.

Georgia was the eldest child born September 25, 1933 in Keyes, Oklahoma to Johnnie “Jack”and Melva Foster . She had seven siblings: Jonela , Jackie Ray, Lenoah , Donnis, Buddy Joe , Linda, and Rhonda. Work led the Foster family west in 1940, where they settled in Tolleson, Arizona for a time and eventually came to Blythe when CalPro began farming operations in the valley. In 1942 when Georgia’s father was drafted into the Army, their family moved back to their home in Keyes, Oklahoma. Georgia married Roy Charles Whisennand in Clayton, New Mexico on May 2, 1950.

Roy and Georgia Whisennand brought their first son, Steven Charles Whisennand, into the world on October 7, 1951 in Elkhart, Kansas- a border town to their residence in Keyes, Oklahoma. A desire to be closer to Georgia’s family brought the Whisennands to Blythe, California, where they experienced the joy of a second son, Danny Royce Whisennand, on October 10, 1957. Georgia’s union with Roy was short-lived; it ended in divorce in 1959. Now a single mother, Georgia persevered as a waitress at Eileen’s Café until- on the advice of one of her regular customers –she started her first business, Whisennand Trucking…which was quite an accomplishment for a single woman to achieve in those days.

Through a mutual acquaintance, Georgia met Loyied “Cotton” Levy, a stone broker, with whom she joined professional forces and married in Boulder City, Nevada on December 31, 1961. Together, they owned and operated Levy Stone Quarries for over forty years. On March 31, 1963, Georgia Levy gave birth to their first daughter, Terri Lu Ella Levy in Blythe, California. Georgia and Cotton welcomed their second daughter, Cindi Su Anne Levy into the world on November 18, 1966 in Banning, California.

In 1985 Georgia and Cotton moved to Nashville, TN where they started their own independent record label, Levy Crest Music, Inc. They eventually moved west settling in Phoenix, AZ for a few years before retiring and returning home to Blythe in 1997 to be closer to their children and families.

The loving mother, Georgia Levy, became a grandmother for the first time in 1980 and for the eighth time in 1995. Georgia became a great-grandmother for the first time in 1996 and for the eighth time in 2009. Georgia Levy had been present for three generations of first words, steps and a multitude of other firsts.

Throughout her life, Georgia was steadfast in her love of the Lord and took pleasure in giving her time to Vacation Bible School, Sunday School and enjoyed her weekly luncheons with the elderly women of the church. She also enjoyed playing piano and singing which as a young girl she sometimes did for church revivals and for her family’s enjoyment. Georgia was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church of Blythe, where she once served as secretary for a time.

Georgia also enjoyed the company of her family. She was actively involved in her children’s school functions and supported the football and baseball programs, Girl Scouts, band boosters and cheer squad to name a few. To those of us who knew and loved her, she was a strong, caring and often silly, funny woman with a compassionate disposition who put the needs of her children and grandchildren before her own. She was a story-teller, a comedienne, a philosopher and a moral compass who will be sorely missed.

Georgia Belle Levy is survived by: her siblings, Lenoah Roper and Donnis Taylor of Hemet, CA, Buddy Joe Foster of Arkansas, Linda Linard of Tucson, AZ, and Rhonda Botts of Banning, CA; her daughters, Terri Laghezza (Phillip) and Cindi Levy-Parsons of Blythe, CA; and her grandchildren (and great-grandchildren), Amanda Whisennand-Henry (Amy Klinedinst, Nathan Henry), Jessica Whisennand-Hill, Erica Whisennand-Seaton (Katelyn & Buddy McKean, Jeremy & Austin Seaton), Jeremy Whisennand, Marci Whisennand-Devorkin (Lily & Dexter Devorkin), Brandi Parsons-Keene, Brandon Parsons and Cory Laghezza.

Georgia was preceded in death by her brother, Jackie Ray Foster(1947); sister, Jonela Faye Russell (1998) son, Danny Royce Whisennand (1972); husband, Loyied Murrey Levy (2004)and son Steven Charles Whisennand (2009).

A Memorial Service for Georgia will be held December 21, 2013 at The First Southern Baptist Church, 350 North Palm in Blythe beginning 11:00AM.