Ezra J. Whitaker

Ezra J. Whitaker, 88, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on June 11, 2019. He was born on December 9, 1930 in Scott County, VA to the late Sarah Huffman Whitaker and George Whitaker. Ezra was a faithful member, Sunday School teacher, and Deacon of Hickman Memorial Baptist Church. After retiring from Kern’s Bakery, Ezra opened Second Chance Lawn and Garden, which served as his ministry to share the good news of Jesus Christ. In addition to his parents, brothers, John and Carlos Whitaker and sister, Vilas Horne, precede him in death. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 66 years, Doris Hickman Whitaker; son, Joseph Whitaker; daughters, Vicki Kuhlmeier and husband Paul, Connie Sexton and husband Gary, Beverly Faulk and husband Kenneth, and Shirley Whetsell and husband Mike; grandchildren, Ivy Ritchie and husband Wes, Christopher Harris and wife Cassidy, Katie Miller and husband Logan, Jeremy Faulk and wife Sarah, Steven Kuhlmeier and wife Erin, Ezra Craig Whitaker and wife Morgan, and Stacy McCray and husband Drew; nine great-grandchildren; brother, Claude Whitaker and wife Patsy; sisters, Hildred Taylor, Thelma Anderson, Margaret Grogg, and special sister-in-law Lena Mae Hickman; and his little dog Shadow. The family will receive friends on Friday, June 14, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at East Lawn Funeral Home or anytime at the home. A celebration of Ezra’s life will follow at 7:00 pm with Evangelist Pat Hammonds, Pastor Jimmy Gross and Pastor Jamie Mauk officiating. Ezra will be laid to rest on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 11:00 am at Booher’s Chapel Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandsons and grandsons-in-law. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Amedysis Hospice and caregivers Roseanna Hammonds and Cody Greene for their care and compassion to Ezra. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions made in Ezra’s honor to Hickman Memorial Baptist Church, 390 Hickman Church Road, Blountville, TN 37617.