James Bernard Whorton

A graveside service for Mr. Whorton will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Oak Hill Cemetery, 2505 4th St NW, Attalla, AL 35954. Kirk Whorton to officiate. No prior visitation is scheduled.

James Bernard Whorton was a loving husband to Edna C. Whorton for 61 years and a wonderful father to two sons, Kirk and Jason. He was a devoted family man and generous sole to many. James, aka. Jim by Edna’s side of the family, was born and raised in Attalla, Alabama. Upon graduating Etowah High School, he worked on his family’s dairy farm until joining the U.S. Navy in 1952. He proudly served during the height of the Korean War until 1956. While in the Navy Petty Officer Third Class (AM3) Whorton served as an Aviation Structures Mechanic and deployed on three Western Pacific (West Pac) cruises aboard the U.S.S. Essex (CVA-9), U.S.S. Wasp (CVA-18), and U.S.S. Kearsarge (CVA-33).

Upon completion of his naval service he returned home and worked at the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal located in Huntsville, AL where he managed the Transit Line (T-Line) and had the privilege of getting to know several of the original Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo astronauts. In 1964 he transferred to Gadsden, AL. to begin a 22-year career in the Postal Service, retiring January 1987.

Upon his retirement, Jim and Edna worked with the Educational Foundation and hosted a number of foreign exchange high school students. This proved to be a wonderful experience for both of them having been able to keep in touch with a few students over the past decades. He stayed busy managing the Whorton Indu-Brazilian (Zebu) Cattle Farm and the family Chert Pit for many years along with assisting a friend to construct homes in the county. He did not “Professionally Retire” as he would call it until he reached his 80’s. He took advantage of his newfound freedom by making new friends across the breakfast table at Jack’s restaurant most days of the week catching up on the news of day.

Mr. Whorton was preceded in death by parents, Joe Mack Whorton and Annie Jo Whorton, stepmother Nell Longshore Whorton, and brother Harold Mack Whorton. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Edna Cheatwood Whorton; sons, Kirk Bernard (Paula)

Whorton and Jason Bart Whorton, two granddaughters Holly Whorton and Allison (Zac) Meyers; brother Patrick (Joyce) Whorton; sisters, Carolyn Chapman, Rita Collier, Becky Rhodes, and sister-in-law Phyllis Whorton.

Serving Pallbearers are Robert Cheatwood, Brian Cheatwood, Zane Henderson, Zac Meyers, Chad Thrasher, Jason Bart Whorton. Honorary pallbearers are Farris Hall, Elliott Whorton, and the Attalla Jack’s Breakfast Crew.

Special thanks to the caregivers at Collinsville Health Care who cared for our husband and dad, for the last few months of his life.