Nellie Bowman Whitmire

Funeral services for Nellie M. Bowman Whitmire, will be held on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 12:00 Noon, at Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin, with the Rev. Mr. James David Gravitt and Rev. Mr. Wayne Smith officiating. Burial will follow at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Gainesville, Georgia. Mrs. Whitmire died August 10, 2009 at her residence. She was born on November 15, 1909 in Franklin, NC. Shortly after her birth the family moved to Georgia where she remained her whole life. Most of her life was spent in Habersham County. During her childhood, she and her 14 brothers and sisters helped with the farming and rode to church in a horse and buggy. In 1938, she married Fletcher Copeland Whitmire. During the Second World War, she and her husband served their country, he in the Army; she in a munitions plant in Macon. Upon his return, they returned to Habersham County. Mrs. Whitmire has served the community in many ways over the years. She had been a member of The Cornelia United Methodist Church since 1964, where she participated in the women's service groups. Prior to that, she had been a member of Mount Zion Methodist Church, since childhood, where she taught Sunday School for many years. She was a member of the Eastern Star, Order #480, Cornelia, Georgia, since 1961. She served as Worthy Matron for two years, and held several other offices including one of her favorites, Chaplin. She also worked tirelessly to help establish the Phi Delta Chapter of the OES in Homer, GA. During retirement, she was a regular volunteer at the Sharing and Caring Place in Cornelia, GA. She operated the cash register two days a week until 1994. She also worked all her life in whatever job that was given to her at the time. She worked on the farm, or in the boarding house, or in the munitions factory, or in what was known as a "Cotton Mill." She worked at the Milliken textile factory in New Holland, Georgia for 20 years and retired from Regal Textiles in Alto, in 1974. She was a good Christian, a devoted wife, a beloved mother, an incredible Grandmother, a treasured Great-Grandmother, and an inspiration to all those around her. She was preceded in death by her parents, George Sherwood Bowman and Sarah Ann Woods Bowman; her husband, Fletcher Copeland Whitmire; all of her brothers and sisters; and several nieces and nephews. She is survived by her daughter, Brenda Sue Whitmire; her granddaughter, Lora Lynn Jarrett, her grandson-in-law, Jade Jarrett; her great-grandson, Christopher Alexander Jarrett; her niece and nephew-in-law: Mary and JC Scroggs; and numerous other nieces, nephews, and grand/great nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends at the South Chapel from 7 until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2009. Arrangements are in the care of Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin, Georgia.