Carolyn S. Whatley

A Life Well Lived

CAROLYN SUE WHATLEY was born in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, September 22, 1956, to William and Louise Whatley. She received her formal education through Columbus Public Schools and was a proud graduate of East High School. Carolyn retired after many years of dedicated service as a Respiratory Therapist at Grant Hospital.

Although Carolyn was a very private person, she had a deep love for giving and helping others. During the pandemic, she made sure those around her had
adequate supplies and generously donated food items to a local church food pantry. She truly had a heart of gold and was a blessing to many.

Carolyn found great joy in doing special things for one of her aunts and her brother, while they resided in a nursing home, prior to their passing. She also delighted in surprising her coworkers with thoughtful treats. When her siblings called, she was known to answer with her signature greetings — “Yo” or “Donatos.” She loved to travel with Kenley Konnection and enjoyed many trips with the group. Carolyn also cherished traveling to Washington, D.C.; Las Vegas; Tacoma, Washington to visit her brother, Jay, and his family; Arizona to visit her nephew, Bruce, and his family; and spending time with relatives throughout Georgia. One memorable road trip took her to Canada and New York with her brother, Ralph; sister, Debbie; and Ralph’s friend, Nate. She also shared fun times in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with her sisters, where she met someone from Michigan with whom she exchanged Christmas cards for many years.

Carolyn shared an especially close bond with her younger sister, Debbie; the two were truly like peas in a pod. Together they traveled to Nassau, Bahamas, and the Gateway Arch in Missouri, where they enjoyed dining at Sweetie Pie’s, visiting the casino, and shopping. Carolyn loved attending the Ohio State Fair, especially sampling the many varieties of deviled eggs and other foods. She faithfully attended the family’s Golden Girls Birthday Lunches and enjoyed watching The View, The Andy Griffith Show, and classic sitcoms. A few family members were also blessed to attend a Broadway performance of Wicked with her.

As the family historian, Carolyn took pride in researching and preserving the family lineage. She deeply valued family unity and believed in loving relationships, mutual support, and standing together despite differences. With her caring, motherly instincts, she offered wise advice and encouragement to those in need. Calm and soft-spoken, Carolyn could also engage warmly in conversation. Everyone who met her loved her, and she will be dearly missed.

OUR BELOVED CAROLYN SUE WHATLEY departed this life on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, at Riverside Methodist Hospital. She was sixty-nine years old. Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, William and Louise Whatley; her brother, Ralph Whatley; her sister, Juanita Whatley; and her brother-in-law, John Goins II.

Loving memories are cherished by her brother, Jasper (Myong Cha) Whatley of Tacoma, Washington; her sisters, Helen (Robert) Tatum, Mary Goins, and Debbie Whatley, all of Columbus, Ohio; along with a host of other relatives, dear friends, neighbors, and blended family.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. - I Thessalonians 4:13-18

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