Cora Broadway Whittington

Born at home on May 31, 1927 in the small farming community of Paxville, South Carolina, Cora was the daughter of Richard and Theola Broadway. She was raised during the hardships of the Great Depression, where the values of hard work, resilience, and kindness shaped the remarkable woman she would become. Her father was a farmer and general store owner, and her mother was a devoted homemaker. Cora was one of seven children. As a young teenager, she often managed the family store while her father worked the farm.

Even in modest circumstances, Cora’s parents nurtured her curiosity and talents. She fondly recalled receiving a camera as a child and spoke of a photograph she took that was later published in a local newspaper. She graduated magna cum laude from high school and went on to earn her degree from Winthrop University. She soon began her career as a third-grade teacher, a profession that reflected her lifelong love of learning and service to others.

Cora later married Charles W. Whittington, a young Army lieutenant and veteran of World War II. As a military wife, she embraced a life of travel and new experiences, living throughout Europe and across the United States while raising their three children. Rarely remaining in one place for more than three years, she created a warm and welcoming home wherever the military journey took her family.

After being widowed in her forties, Cora made Alexandria her permanent home. She returned to the workforce and served with dedication in civilian positions at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and both the U.S. Navy and Army departments.

In retirement, Cora devoted herself to the things she loved most: gardening, traveling, cooking, civic engagement, and volunteering at Mount Vernon, the estate of George Washington. She especially enjoyed summer evenings spent listening to local outdoor concerts under the open sky. Deeply devoted to her family and church, Cora will be remembered for her gracious spirit, warm hospitality, and gentle southern drawl that made everyone feel welcomed and loved.

Cora was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Colonel Charles W. Whittington Sr., her parents, and her siblings, Margaret Gould, Mazel Russell, and Richard (Sonny) Broadway, as well as two siblings who died in childhood. She is survived by her children, Barbara Nido (Luis), Richard Whittington, and Charles Whittington, Jr. (Patricia); and her sister, Millie Robertson. Also survived by her grandsons, Luis Nido Jr., Carlos Nido, and James Whittington; and her great-grandchildren, Ellis Nido and Elizabeth Anne Nido.

Her family will remember her as a woman of strength, grace, and enduring faith whose life was marked by love, generosity, and quiet determination. She leaves behind a legacy of devotion to family, service to others, and kindness that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Cora’s memory may be made to United Community, 7511 Fordson Rd., Alexandria, VA 22306.