Wanda Gunn Whiting

Wanda Garmon Whiting, 74, of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away peacefully on June 13, 2024. Wanda Bessie was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 5, 1950, to Owen and Lillian Garmon. She was a cherished daughter and sibling to her brother, Barry.

Wanda attended Germantown High School in Philadelphia before pursuing her higher education at Florida A&M University (FAMU), graduating in 1971. While at FAMU, she worked as a summer intern at Sears and Roebuck and later accepted an offer post-graduation in New York City as a retail buyer. She eventually moved back to Philadelphia, where she transitioned to working in local government. Later in her career, she made the switch from local to federal government, where she took on several leadership roles. She retired from the Census Bureau on April 30, 2023.

Wanda married Charles Gunn in 1970 in Thomasville, Georgia. This union produced her only child, Shawn Gunn. This marriage would end in divorce in 1974. In 1981, she married Oscar Whiting in Richmond, Virginia. The couple initially resided in Willingboro, New Jersey, for many years before moving to Waldorf, Maryland, once Oscar retired. They eventually relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, in 2006, which would be Wanda’s final home. Oscar Whiting passed away in 2017.

Wanda was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her son, Shawn Gunn (Toi), her grandson, Jordan Gunn, her brother, Barry Garmon, her stepson, Michael Whiting (Cynthia), grandsons, Michael Whiting II (Candace) and Matthew Whiting (Christina), and great-grandchildren, Anthony, Bradley, Vanessa, Chad, and Ava. She also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Owen and Lillian Garmon, and her late husband, Oscar Whiting.

Wanda was known for her compassion, generosity, mentorship, leadership, and dedication to her community. She had a classic, refined style and believed in the importance of making a great first impression. She enjoyed theater, culinary arts, fine dining, traveling, and having tea with her sorority and Links sisters. Her passions also included supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), women's empowerment, and voting rights. Wanda was also known for being tough and a straight talker, often wrapping her words with a smile.

Wanda served on numerous boards and held leadership positions in both Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and The Links, Incorporated. In 1986 and 1987, she was recognized as one of the Outstanding Young Women of America. She held multiple leadership roles in the alumni association. In 1997, she was honored with the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award for Community Service. In 2021, she was awarded the Bronze Medal, the highest honorary recognition by the US Census Bureau, recognizing her for superior performance.

The memorial services for Wanda G. Whiting in Atlanta will be on Monday, June 24th, at 12 noon at Cascade United Methodist Church. The ceremonies for the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and The Links organization will immediately precede the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Florida A&M University Foundation in Wanda’s memory. Please use this link when donating: https://my.famu.edu/donation/whitingmemorial

For those unable to attend the services in Atlanta, please use the following link: cascadeumc.org/wwhiting

Services in Philadelphia will be held on Saturday, July 13th at 1pm at Batchelor Brothers Funeral Home (3215 Garrett Rd, Drexel Hill, PA 19026).