William "Bill" Edward Whitley

September 19, 1938 – September 27, 2026

William Edward “Bill” Whitley, 88, of Hanahan, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on September 27, 2026.

Bill was born on September 19, 1938, in Suffolk, Virginia, to Doctor Glover Whitley and Beatrice Carter Whitley. One of twelve children, he was raised on the family farm along the Nansemond River, where he learned the values of hard work, family, and a deep appreciation for the outdoors. Growing up alongside his eight brothers and three sisters, Bill developed a lifelong love of the water, and fishing became one of his favorite pastimes.

At the age of 18, Bill began what would become a distinguished career in agriculture. He became federally licensed in Virginia as an inspector of grain commodities. In 1966, he moved to Charleston, South Carolina, to accept a position with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. During his career, Bill became the youngest Chief Grain Inspector for the State of South Carolina, an accomplishment that reflected both his knowledge and his dedication to his profession.

In 1983, Bill married the love of his life, Margie (Cox) Whitely. Together, they built a life filled with love, adventure, and countless memories. They enjoyed traveling, hunting, camping, and especially spending time on the water.

Fishing was never simply a hobby for Bill; it was one of the great joys of his life. His love for the ocean also inspired a desire to protect it. After learning about the Coastal Conservation Association, a grassroots organization of recreational saltwater anglers dedicated to conserving marine resources and coastal habitats, Bill helped establish a CCA chapter in the Charleston area so that the waterways he loved so dearly could be protected for generations to come.

On March 1, 1997, Bill made a decision that would profoundly shape the remainder of his life: he gave his heart and life to Jesus Christ and accepted Him as his Lord and Savior. Bill and Margie joined a church and were baptized together, and from that time forward, Bill’s faith became one of the defining passions of his life.

He had a deep desire to share the Gospel and the hope he had found in Christ. He participated in mission trips around the world, sharing the love and good news of Jesus with others. He especially treasured opportunities to share Christ’s message with his grandchildren, passing along the faith and hope that guided his own life. He later served as a chaplain, and prison ministry—particularly ministering to young people—became especially close to his heart.

Bill truly never met a stranger. He possessed a remarkable ability to speak with people from every walk of life and make them feel as though they had known him for years. Whether standing in a grocery-store line, filling up at a gas station, traveling across the country, or halfway around the world, Bill was never shy about sharing his faith and the reason for his hope. He had a gift for conversation and a way of speaking that made people want to listen.

Fishing may have been one of Bill’s greatest earthly pleasures, but in the later years of his life, he embraced what he believed was an even greater calling: becoming a “fisher of men.”

Bill leaves behind a family who will forever cherish his memory, including his loving wife, Margie (Cox) Whitley; his daughter, Cindie (Whitley) White and her husband, Tom; his granddaughter, Brandi (White) Matthews, and her children, Adelle, Liam, and Logan; his grandson, Thomas E. White III, his wife, Brittany, and their children, Elena, Katie, and Tommy; his granddaughter, Chelsea (White) Johnson, her husband, Vincent, and their children, Gabriel, Micah, Aleigha, Daniel, David, and Domenica; his granddaughter, Brooke (White) Dawson, her husband, Tyler, and their joyfully awaited daughter, Clara Mae, expected to arrive in February 2027; and his grandson, William Whitley, and his sons, Riley and Cam.

Additionally, Margie’s children, Lisa (Swindal) Tyler, Gavin, Morgan (Tyler) Sistare, and Ralph Swindal; Ralph’s wife, Suzanne; and their children, Lindsey and Harrison, also cherish his memory.

Bill is also survived by his siblings, Annette (Whitley) Thompson, Paul Whitley, and Gene Whitley, along with many other relatives, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, and countless people whose lives were touched by his kindness, conversation, faith, and generosity of spirit.

He was preceded in death by his son, William Bart Whitley; and his siblings, Madeline (Whitley) Cooke, George Whitley, Hearn “Carter” Whitley, Clarence Whitley, Mildred (Whitley) Parker, Milton Whitley, Bobby Whitley, and Ernest Whitley.

Bill leaves behind far more than memories. He leaves a legacy of unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, service to others, conservation of the waters he loved, devotion to family, and a reminder never to pass up an opportunity to encourage another person.

Those who knew Bill will remember his stories, his love of fishing, his willingness to talk to anyone, and the unmistakable joy with which he shared his faith.

He spent much of his life fishing the waters he loved, but his greatest legacy will be the lives he touched while answering Christ’s call to become a fisher of men.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation in Bill's name to Charlie's Lunch at charlieslunch.com or mail to PO Box 1821, Keller, TX, 76244 which feeds children in countries around the world.