Mrs. Rita Diana Whitley was called home to Glory on Sunday, April 28th, 2024  after a lengthy illness.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, May 1st, 2024

and will take place at her chosen church, New Life Christian Assembly in Dora, Alabama.

Visitation will begin at 10:00a.m. through 12:00 noon.

Her immediate family will meet at 9:30a.m.

Funeral Service will begin at noon.

Reverends Keith Owens and James Aycox will officiate.

She will be laid to rest at New Hope Cemetery in the Pineywoods community following her funeral.

Rita was born on November 15th,1951 in Sipsey, Alabama.

She was a member of the Sipsey Church of God for over 40 years.

She was a former nurse who enjoyed working in Nursing Homes and as a Hospice Nurse.

The last 20 years of her life were spent being a homemaker, wife, mother, and a loving grandmother.

Mrs. Whitley is survived by her husband of 56 years, Joseph F. Whitley.  Together they raised one son, Jeremy Whitley and his wife Shannon of Jasper, Alabama.  They also raised two daughters, Sonia Waid, wife of David Waid of Sumiton, Alabama, and Rachael Whitley, also of Sumiton, Alabama.

She was blessed with 7 grandchildren.   Michael David Waid and wife Emiley,   Taylor Vance Whitley and wife Courtney, Connor Vance Whitley , Matthew Brodie Waid, Aubrey Grace Whitley, Joseph Sawyer Barnes, and Channing Alexander Frazier.

Her most recent joys were her great granddaughters, Miller Elizabeth Whitley and Eden Brooks Whitley, daughters of Taylor.

She leaves also a large extended family of brothers, sisters in law, nieces, nephews and a host of cousins, each of whom she loved beyond measure.

She was preceded to Heaven by her infant son, Jeffery Phillip Whitley, her parents, Garland and Ruby Clifton, and a younger sister, Freda Delores Church.

The family asks that those who attend RITZY's Celebration of Life leave dark and somber clothing at home and dress in  beautiful colors and prints of the wild flowers she enjoyed so much this time each year.