Jerry E. Whittle

Jerry E. Whittle, age 72, passed away August 17, 2013 at Collinsville Healthcare in Collinsville, Alabama. A Fort Payne native, he was the son of the late Bertie Mae and W. E. (Ernest) Whittle. A 1959 graduate of Fort Payne High School, he attended Snead State Jr. College, Jacksonville State and the University of Alabama. Whittle was in the newspaper business for over 47 years. He was the former publisher of the Times-Journal in Fort Payne, publisher and part-owner of the McDuffie Progress in Thomson, GA. He and his wife Cheryl, purchased The DeKalb Advertiser in Fort Payne in 1992 and operated the weekly until their retirement in 2008. Whittle was a member of Saint Philip’s Episcopal Church in Fort Payne. Whittle was active in many civic and community organizations. He was a longtime member of the Landmark Board of Trustees, twice served on the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce Board, DeKalb Tourism Board, was the president of the Fort Payne Jaycees, served on the Boy Scout Board, president of Forest Avenue PTA and PTA council, a Rotarian and Paul Harris fellow. In 2008, he was awarded the V.I. Prewett Lifetime Achievement Award. In Thomson, GA, he was the president of the Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Kiwanis Club, and a dedicated member of the Thomson High Booster Club, and was a Paul Harris Fellow. A visitation will be held Sunday evening from 4:30 until 7 p.m. at Saint Philips Episcopal Church on Godfrey Avenue. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Judith Comer and the Rev. Grady Richardson officiating. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Saint Philips Episcopal Church, 2813 Godfrey Avenue, NE, Fort Payne, AL 35967 or John Croyle’s Big Oak Ranches, P.O. Box 507, Springfield, AL 35146. Survivors include his loving wife of 26 ½ years, Cheryl Ethridge Whittle of Fort Payne; children Kim Whittle of Fort Payne, Scott Whittle of Thomson, GA, and Chris Stehle of Austin, TX; grandchildren Austin, Kallan, Callan, A.J. (Jerry) Whittle all of Thomson, GA, Ashley Andrews, Lesley Andrews, and Layden Whittle Knight, all of Fort Payne, and Austin Knight of Ethridge, TN; great-grandchildren Jakobe Dray Andrews and Aliyah Jade Andrews; father-in-law the Rev. Forrest Ethridge of Fort Payne; several cousins, his DeKalb Advertiser family, a special buddy, Joey Knight, and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter Angel Leigh Whittle, and mother-in-law Evelyn Ethridge. Wilson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jerry E. Whittle

May 27, 1941 - August 17, 2013