James Earl Whitehead Sr.

Mr. James Earl Whitehead, Sr., 75, of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, died on August 16, 2015 in Rocky Mount, N.C. James Earl Whitehead, Sr. answered the call of his heavenly father on Sunday, August 16, 2015 at his home in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.James Earl, as he is known by family and friends, was born on March 7, 1940. He was the eighth of nine children, born to the late Anthony and Edna Whitehead. He was reared in Edgecombe County and educated in the Edgecombe County School system. He was fortunate to graduate from George Washington Carver High School in Pinetops, North Carolina, with the Class of 1958.After graduation he left North Carolina and relocated to Baltimore Maryland. He lived there for approximately three years and then moved to The Big Apple – New York City. There he made his home. He met the love of his life, Sandra Garrett in North Carolina where they began their courtship on Doctor Bullocks Farm. They rekindled their romance in New York City. Having been raised to be an upstanding gentleman, he returned to North Carolina to ask Mr. Isaac Garrett for her hand in marriage. On March 4, 1963 they were wed in holy matrimony. To this union two beautiful children were born, James Jr. and Sarita Colette. They made their home in Brooklyn, New York for 42 years.James Earl worked different jobs before he was employed at the Case Paper Company in Long Island City, New York. There he was lovingly known as “Jimmy”. It was also there that he met his long time friend Sinclair Marshall. He was a diligent worker and always provided very well for his family. He faithfully worked for the Case Paper Company for over 30 years.In 2003 James Earl and Sandra returned to North Carolina. Although he accepted Christ at an early age, on March 10, 2010 he was baptized by the Reverend George E. Battle, Sr. at the Mount Olive Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.James Earl was a good man. He was a generous man. He was a forgiving man. He was a wonderful father and loved his family very much. If you needed it, he would give you the shirt off his back. Although he was sick with stomach cancer for over five years he never complained. When asked, “James Earl, how you doing?” His response was always the same… “Im alright!”He was preceded in death by his four sisters whom he loved dearly, Clara Mae, Ethel Lee, Erma Christine and Helen Odessa and one loving brother, John Anthony “Preacher”.James Earl leaves to cherish his memory: Sandra, his loving wife of 52 years; son, James Earl Jr. (Teresa); daughter, Sarita Colette; three brothers, Archie (Joyce) and Robert (Martha) both of Rocky Mount; Herman (Linda) of Baltimore, Maryland; one sister, Esther Taylor of Baltimore, Maryland; one sister in law, Jeanette (Preacher) of Rocky Mount; eight grandchildren, Anthony, Jmeis, Courtney, Desmond, Kayla, Ashton, SaLeema and Sean all of New York; two great grandchildren, Madison and Jakeem; seven nieces who were like his daughters – who he helped to raise, Faye, Raye, Evonne, Fikriyyah “Pat”, Barbara, Joyce and Robin; a very special nephew and his wife Marvin and Brenda Garrett and a host of relatives and friends.A Visitation for Mr. Whitehead will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2015, in the Rocky Mount Chapel of H.D. Pope Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, August 22, 2015, at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 2141 Cokey Road, in Rocky Mount, N.C. The Interment will take place immediately following the service in Rocky Mount Memorial Park in Rocky Mount, N.C.These professional services have been entrusted to H.D. Pope Funeral Home, located at 325 Nash Street in Rocky Mount, N.C. Please visit the “Memorial Wall”.

Service:

A Visitation for Mr. Whitehead will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2015, in the Rocky Mount Chapel of H.D. Pope Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, August 22, 2015, at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 2141 Cokey Road, in Rocky Mount, N.C. The Interment will take place immediately following the service in Rocky Mount Memorial Park in Rocky Mount, N.C.Please visit the Memorial Wall.