July 31, 1973 - February 15, 2014
Whitney was taken away from us unexpectedly on February 15 at her Vestavia Hills, Alabama home after a brief illness. As the gates of heaven opened for her arrival, the angels began to sing. She leaves behind three broken-hearted, beautiful children, their daddy, and her family and friends.
Whitney was a loving mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She was a brilliant scholar, an avid animal lover (partial to Golden Retrievers), and was an exceptional photographer. Whitney lived for her three beautiful babies, and enjoyed nothing more than chasing them around, capturing time with her camera.
The Haleyville, Alabama native attended Indian Springs School (1987-1988) and Haleyville City Schools. She graduated from Haleyville High School in 1991. Whitney earned her undergraduate degree at Tulane University, where she was in the Chi O sorority. She received her master’s degree in Industrial Psychology from the University of Alabama and earned her law degree from Birmingham School of Law. She was employed by ICD-3 at U.S. Steel.
Whitney was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Leo and Ola Norris, and her maternal grandmother, Elaine Thomas Manning. Survivors include Whitney’s husband, Michael Gentry of Vestavia Hills; three children, Isabella “Bella” Caroline (9), Livia Mae (3), and Michael “Cael” Leo (1); Whitney’s mother, Nancy Manning Norris (Ben) Schillaci of Birmingham, Alabama; her father, Dennis Norris (Anne Platt) of St. Petersburg, Florida; sister, Stephanie Norris (Kevin) Schambeau of Hoover, Alabama; nephew, Blake Schambeau; nieces, Hartleigh Schambeau and Sophie Schambeau; mother-in-law, Jan (Mike) Smith of Vestavia, Alabama; father-in-law, Ed (Robin) Gentry of Calera, Alabama; uncle, Robert L. (Barbara) Manning of Wilsonville, Alabama; aunt, Lila Jean Bright of Vestavia, Alabama; and a host of cousins, other family, and friends.
The visitation for Whitney will be from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, February 17, 2014 at Ridout’s Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, Alabama. The graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at Winston Memorial Cemetery in Haleyville, Alabama, with Bo Shedd officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the “Whitney's Kids” fund at www.gofundme.com.
Arrangements under the direction of Southern Heritage Funeral Home, Pelham, Alabama.
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