Melvin Riley Whitaker

Published 12:05 pm Thursday, July 6, 2017

Melvin Riley Whitaker

July 4, 2017

Melvin Riley Whitaker, 79, of Brinson, Ga., passed away Tuesday, July 4, 2017.

The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 7, 2017, at Ivey Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery with Lee Smith, Kolte Whitaker, Matt Gould, Robin Billings, Paul Sullivan, Joseph Gould and Eric Gould serving as active pallbearers. Caroll Craven, Rentz Murphy, Cecil Griner and Charles Harrell will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 6, 2017, at Ivey Funeral Home. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com.

Memorial donations may be made to: Mt. Gilead Freewill Baptist Church,

2932 Spring Creek Road, Brinson, GA 39825.

Melvin Riley Whitaker was born September 30, 1937, in Miller County, Ga., the son of Wyatt Whitaker and Chloe Dean Whitaker. He married Glenda Annette Kendrick in 1958. Melvin was a member of Mt. Gilead Freewill Baptist Church.

Melvin was described as a workaholic and enjoyed being the boss. He owned Sunstate Sportswear and served customers in the tri-state area with the highest integrity. He would take a day off every now and then to fish or hunt. Melvin put family and church first and gave unconditionally to both.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Glenda Kendrick Whitaker; his children, Ronnie & Joyce Whitaker of Pavo, Ga., Brenda Borden of Douglas, Ga., Donna & Robin Billings of Moultrie, Ga. and Karen & Matt Gould also of Moultrie, Ga.; his siblings, Nina & C.L. Pickren of Colquitt, Ga., Lester and Becky Whitaker of Norman Park, Ga., and Bill & Debbie Whitaker of Sylvester, Ga.; his grandchildren, Laurel Sheets, Jacki Sullivan, Kolte Whitaker, Heather Smith, Eric Gould, Joseph Gould, Abby Billings and Chloe Gould; and his nine great-grandchildren. Melvin was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Mildred Gordon, Delma Hoover, Lynwood Whitaker and Eli Whitaker; and his granddaughter, Brandy Whitaker.