Barbara Whitaker

Barbara Avera Whitaker

Wrens, GA  – Barbara Avera Whitaker, 86, loving wife of the late Joseph “Felton” Whitaker, entered into rest Friday morning, August 1, 2014 at her residence. Funeral services will be held at 3:00PM Monday, August 4, 2014 in the James Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. James M. Ford and Rev. Thad Harvey officiating. Interment will follow in Wrens Memorial Cemetery.

The youngest of four children born to the late Plexie Stapleton Avera and the late Willie G. Avera, Barbara was a lifelong resident of Wrens and a member of Wrens Baptist Church. Meeting Felton after his family bought the farm next to her family’s farm, they married and in1955 bought Avera Hardware.  She co-owned the business with him until his passing, and then stayed on with her son when the business moved and became Avera Industrial Supply. She lived and breathed the business—she kept the books, took inventory, and was knowledgeable of each part and product.  Barbara was a huge asset to the business and became a very savvy business woman. In her spare time, she and her two best friends, Mary Huff and Ann Lewis, worked diligently at Wrens Baptist Church, doing whatever was needed at the church to serve her Lord.  She enjoyed cooking for her family and always had Sunday dinners at her home until she became physically unable to do so.  She absolutely adored her family, especially her two granddaughters. A no-nonsense person, Barbara was pragmatic and reliable—working hard, reading her Bible, loving and supporting her family and church—day in and day out until the very end.

Barbara was also preceded in death by all her siblings, J. A. Avera, Lorene Spence and Irene Starr. Survivors include her son, Brian Whitaker; two granddaughters, Katelin Avera Whitaker and Shelby Anne Whitaker; nephew, William Avera; niece, Sue Seabolt; first cousin, Mildred Jordan; and many friends. Pallbearers will be Donnie Bailey, Jeb Barrow, Terry Englett, Wayne Favors, Adam Howard and Jay Martin.

The family will receive friends at James Funeral Home from 1:30-3:00PM prior to the services on Monday afternoon, August 4, 2014.
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Legacy Of Love

A wife, a mother, a grandma too,
This is the legacy we have from you.
You taught us love and how to fight.
You gave us strength, you gave us might.
A stronger person would be hard to find,
And in your heart, you were always kind.
You fought for us all in one way or another,
Not just as a wife, no just as a mother.
For all of us you gave your best,
Now the time has come for you to rest.
So go in peace, you've earned your sleep.
Your love in our hearts, we'll eternally keep.

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