Morene Whitworth

In addition to her parents, Mr. Francis Emory Burnette and Mrs. Jesse Sisk Burnette, she was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny Virlyn Whitworth, and her brothers and sisters, Jack Otis Burnette, Roy Wesley Burnette, Frances Edith Burnette, Mary Callie Burnette, Juanita Burnette, Linnie Burnette Andrews, and Ralph Burnette.

She is survived by her son Joel Whitworth (Jean Allise Whitworth), grandchildren Aaron Whitworth (Emily Bryant Whitworth) and Emily Talley (Kyle Talley), great-granddaughter Ada Liisa Talley, sister-in-law Virginia McCollough Burnette, and several nieces and nephews.

Morene was born on March 7, 1935 to Mr. Francis Emory Burnette and Mrs. Jesse Sisk Burnette in Douglasville, Georgia. She graduated from Douglas County High School in 1952, where she played basketball at a time when girls wore skirts and played with six team members. The week after graduation, she started her first job at the State of Georgia Highway Department as secretary to the Commissioner. She later transferred to the Governor’s office where she served as secretary to four Georgia governors.

In 1952, Morene married Johnny Virlyn Whitworth in Douglasville, Georgia. Morene and Johnny had one child, Joel Wayne Whitworth. She and her late husband, Virlyn, were active members of CrossPoint Christian Church in Conyers GA, where Morene sang in the choir.

Morene lived in Georgia her whole life until variables associated with the recent pandemic required her to leave her beloved state. She was a lifelong Braves fan and remained a diehard supporter of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Following her move to North Carolina, Morene found a warm welcome and new friends within the Appalachian Brian Estates community located in the NC High Country. She enjoyed the fall colors and the snowfalls offered in the area, and being close to her great-granddaughter, Ada. Morene loved her family, both immediate and extended. She loved her work at the state Capitol and had a memory for names that was beyond belief. At one time, she personally knew almost every politician in Georgia…and had her photo made with most of them.

Memorial services for Morene will be as follows:

Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 4:15p.m. at Appalachian Brian Estates, 163 Shadowline Drive, Boone, NC 28607.

Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Hickory Funeral Home, 1031 11th Ave. Blvd. SE, Hickory, NC 28602. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home.

Please refer to https://www.eventcreate.com/e/mwhitworth for information.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Appalachian Brian Estates in Boone, North Carolina; 163 Shadowline Drive, Boone, NC 28607.