Amatene Lockhart Whitfill

Amatene “Teenie” Lockhart Whitfill, 91, of Apex, North Carolina, died on Monday, May 2, 2011 at Wake Medical Center Cary, North Carolina. Teenie was born in Plainview, Texas on April 16, 1920 to Sherman Lockhart and Eva Buttolph Lockhart, and was an only child.

Teenie was a business major graduate of West Texas State Collage, Canyon, Texas. She was married to Lloyd Whitfill on January 4, 1941 in Plainview, Texas, her beloved lifetime sweetheart. She gave birth to their only child, Craig, on October 20, 1944. They lived in Tulia, Texas where Teenie worked as an accountant in the CPA firm of Graham, Glover, and Brown, played bridge, and loved to go dancing with Lloyd on every occasion. They farmed in Kress and Tulia, Texas and shared every living moment of their life with their son Craig in the most special ways that a child could ever imagine.

After Lloyd passed away on March 11, 1971, Teenie moved to Austin, Texas to be near her son and family and worked at the Austin Citizen Newspaper and also as a private bookkeeper. She followed Craig and family to Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1980, and then on to North Carolina to be near Craig and family in 1997.

She was a central loving and important part of her son Craig’s family in every way possible. Living independently but always in loving support. Wherever she lived she made many friends, who were influenced by her positive lust of life and felt they had known her forever and wanted her for their mother or grandmother. She loved to cook and host family meals and get togethers and spend time in the garden. She often made for the family and friends the best lemon chess pie in the whole world.

Teenie was a talented seamstress and produced many cross stitch heirlooms. She was an avid listener of ham radio, an “SWL” short wave listener known as Miss Teenie to many ham radio friends and made pies for the hamfests. She had her own ham radio station at her home that kept her constant companionship along with her family. She listened to the North Carolina Single Sideband Net and the Early Bird Net often, and she started each of her days the “Early Bird Way” and made herself a wonderful day.

Teenie was always there night and day to receive a call of loving friendship and to give support and guidance in her very special unselfish way. She gave of herself daily in all ways to Craig and his family. She enjoyed them all, wife, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They were her life, and her life was theirs.

She woke up each day and despite her physical pain and limitations, she looked to what could be the lust of the day. She made the best out of each day and brought the best out of each person. She found joy in small pleasures, each moment, giving herself to others and never expecting anything in return and not thinking of herself. Teenie was the “glue” of our families in many ways.

Growing up in the Panhandle of Texas Teenie developed “True Grit” to meet each situation head on with a “can win” attitude and a calm peaceful assurance. She enjoyed each day that life gave her and shared that joy and life with each family member and friend she met. She searched for at least one activity or entertainment per day that she could make a positive event and was the “little lady, Teenie, that was bigger than life itself”. We thought we gave to her, but it was her that gave the most to us. This mother Teenie may have held her children’s hands for a short while, but certainly holds our hearts forever!

She is survived by her son, Dr. Craig Whitfill and wife, Alecia of Apex; grandchildren: Joshua Whitfill and wife, Kelly of Fuquay Varina, and Robin Mann and husband, Luke of Holly Springs. She is also survived by her cherished great grandchildren: Jacob, Faith, Christian, and Cayla.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm Saturday, May 7, 2011 at Apex Funeral Home, 550 W. Williams St., Apex, North Carolina. Flowers are welcome for sure and/or contributions can be made in her name to St. Judes Children’s Hospital.