Clarence C. Whitley

Clarence Carter Whitley, age 93, formerly of Pascagoula, passed away on March 20th, 2023.  He was born August 5, 1929, in Suffolk, VA to Doctor Glover Whitley and Beatrice Worth Carter Whitley as the 4th child of 12 children.  Clarence was dedicated to his church, family, and country. 

Clarence enlisted in the U. S. Air Force in January 1950 during the Korean conflict reaching the rank of Staff Sargent.  While in the Air Force Clarence returned to Virginia and on August 4th, 1951, he married his sweetheart, Georgia Dolores Pingley.  In late 1952 Clarence was stationed in South Korea at Osan Air Base “K-55”.  After his four-year enlistment was over in early 1955 Clarence returned to Virginia and completed his apprenticeship as a first-class foundry molder at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company.  Using the GI Bill, Clarence attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, VA earning a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering in June of 1960.  After graduation Clarence returned to work at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock.  In 1972 Clarence moved his family to Pascagoula where he had accepted a position at Ingalls Shipbuilding.  In 1995, he retired from Ingalls after 23 years of service.  He was a member of American Legion Post # 160 in Pascagoula and American Institute of Industrial Engineers.  Clarence has been a faithful member of First United Methodist Church in Pascagoula since 1972.  Clarence taught Sunday School for over 30 years and loved to share his faith with others.  Clarence was also an avid golfer and longtime member of the Pascagoula Country Club.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Georgia Dolores Whitley; two sisters, Madeline Whitley Cook, and Mildred Whitley Parker; and four brothers, George, Hearn, Bobby, and Milton Whitley.

Clarence is survived by his two sons, Alan Whitley (Cindy), Gautier; Keith Whitley (Caroline), Moss Point; four brothers, Gene, Ernest, Paul, and Bill Whitley; and one sister Annette Thompson; four grandchildren, Heather Whitley, Hannah Whitley Holland, Julia Whitley Johnson (Jacob), and Joseph Whitley; and eight great grandchildren.

Visitation will be Thursday, March 23,2023 at First United Methodist Church in Pascagoula from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM.  Funeral Service will begin at 1:30 PM.  Interment will be at Jackson County Memorial Park in Pascagoula, MS.  Pallbearers will be Joseph Whitley, Jacob Johnson, Stephen Burrow, Gains Holder, Rev. Brad Holt, and Colton Guillotte.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to his church, First United Methodist Church of Pascagoula, P.O. Box 371, 2710 Pascagoula Street, Pascagoula, MS 39567 (228) 762-5222, web – fumcpascagoula.org; or Mississippi Gulf Coast Youth for Christ, 351 Pass Road, Gulfport, MS 39507, web - coastyfc.com, email - youthforchrist@coastyfc.com.

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