Leola Jewel Whisenant

Leola Jewel Whisenant, loving mother and grandmother, 86, of Valley Nursing Center, Taylorsville, NC died Monday, December 4, 2006 at Gateway Nursing Center in Lenoir following a period of declining health. She was born on July 23, 1920 in Burke County, NC and was a daughter of the late John Emoch Branch and Annie Lee Branch Branch. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Leonard Whisenant; brothers, Jimmy Lee Branch, Walter Branch, and Adam Branch; a sister, Siddie Mae Branch; and by a son-in-law, Jim Padgett. Prior to her illness Mrs. Whisenant served faithfully as a foster grandparent at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center and was a member of Zion Baptist Church where she loved her Sunday School Class. Leola loved and appreciated those that cared for her and loved working with children.

Surviving are her son, Marshall Whisenant, and his wife, Doris; daughters, JoAnn Padgett and Jeanette Yancey and her husband, Dennis, all of Morganton; brothers, John Branch of Lenoir and Harold Branch of Morganton; sisters, Della Hammer of Lenoir and Louise Hoffman of Hudson; nine grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 7, 2006, at Zion Baptist Church with the Reverends Ron Cooper, David Orders, and Jimmy Lambert officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Sossoman Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 minutes before the funeral hour. Memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 902 Kirkwood St., NW, Lenoir, NC 28645 or to The Alzheimer’s Association, WNC Chapter, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215.