Mrs. Carmell Whittle was born to Mr Willie Kemp and Delia Kemp on November 12, 1931 in the city of Pickens, Arkansas. She departed this life on August 11, 2020 in the city of Fresno, Ca at the age of 88 years old. Carmell Whittle was the middle of 12 children born to Willie Kemp.
Carmell Whittle in her own words, “I have always wanted to do things that other people have done or attempted to do. I never wanted to be a leader but instead a follower. An yet it always seemed as though I was standing in the forefront of life. In the few years that I have had with my children, I ‘ve tried to teach them that no matter what you do in life, someone will criticize you. So, I taught them that when it happens, keep your head high as though nothing has happened, so that way the secret inside you will never be revealed. For only what you do and say is how you will be known. I loved being unpredictable. I loved keeping my life like a puzzle. I am for real. I am human and I loved my family.”
Carmell attended elementary school in Pickens and later went to high school in Dumas and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. In 1949 she moved to Fresno, California where she spend the rest of time in life. Carmell Whittle met and married Elzie Whittle in October 29, 1953. The story was told that Elzie Whittle ask Carmell to marry her on his 2nd time meeting here and 3 weeks later they were married. From that union they raise 8 children together until Elzie Whittle passing August 3, 1993, 40 years together and Carmell would often say one man was enough for her and she never remarried.
After 30 years of marriage she attended Fresno City College and received her degree in Child Development. During that time, she was employed by the West Fresno School District. She worked for seventeen and half years working with children after raising her own eight children, she was always a lover of kids.
Carmell was a member of the St. Rest Baptist Church of Fresno in which she was the organist for the Senior and Mission Choir. Of the many other things, she loved doing, she loved to sew and working in her yard. She also wrote and published a book entitled “The Kemp Family History” in 1999.
Carmell Whittle is proceeded in death by her husband Elzie Whittle and son Edward Lee Whittle, - 6 brothers and 3 sisters also proceeded her in death. Left to cherish her life are Her sisters – Lenora Kemp of Oakland, Ca and Betty Ruth Tatum of Fresno, Ca. Her children Oscar Lee Whittle of Minneapolis, MN, Rev. Marvin Ray Whittle and wife Olivia Whittle, Pastor Melvin Roy Whittle and wife Lucy S. Whittle, John Lester Whittle and wife Charlene Kay Jackson - Whittle, Elsie Gwyn Whittle and Bernice Cathy Whittle – Randolph and husband Edwin Randolph all of Fresno, Ca and Maxine Whittle Cobb and husband Sam Cobb of North Indio, Ca. Along with a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and a host of relatives and friends.
Please use the following link to see a recording of the Graveside Service:
https://vimeo.com/449570604
Password: whittle
