JENNIFER ANN MCLAMB WHITAKER
Aug. 17, 1974-Aug. 1, 2015
Jennifer Ann McLamb Whitaker, 40, passed away Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015, at her home in Hickory, N.C., with family by her side.
One of the brightest lights, she leaves a legacy of love, loyalty, service and strength with all those she touched.
Born Aug. 17, 1974, in Winston-Salem, N.C., Jennifer spent most of her childhood in Goldsboro, N.C.
She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, volunteering and working with organizations to support families and youths during her tenure.
She earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of South Carolina, and began a career of service to others as a licensed clinical social worker.
Jennifer served as a clinical therapist in Goldsboro for five years, where she met her husband, Alexander Whitaker. They married in 2008, and she continued her work at Catawba Valley Behavioral Healthcare in Hickory, N.C., eventually becoming a clinical director there.
Truly dedicated to helping those in need, Jennifer devoted herself and her energy to her work.
Jennifer enjoyed spending time outdoors, particularly hiking along North Carolina's beautiful mountains and streams, daily walks in her neighborhood and peaceful time on the beaches of Florida.
More than anything, she loved spending time with her family, and was especially devoted to her husband, Alex.
Jennifer's gentle spirit, generous heart and warm smile will always inspire those who knew her.
Jennifer was predeceased by her infant son, Alexander, in May 2013.
She is survived by her loving husband, Alex Whitaker, of Hickory; her mother, Marguerite (Rita) Lovett Robbins of Chapel Hill, N.C.; her father and stepmother, Samuel B. McLamb Jr. and Yvonne Corbett McLamb of Goldsboro, N.C.; her twin sister, Catherine McLamb Brown of Charlottesville, Va.; her older sister, Marguerite McLamb of Chapel Hill, N.C.; her brother, Samuel B. McLamb III of Asheville, N.C.; stepsister, Kelly Shiel of Raleigh, N.C.; stepbrother, Kevin Aycock of Wake Forest, N.C.; four nephews, Tyler Brown Jr., Kemper Brown, Sam McLamb IV and Hugh Kelly; three nieces, Katherine Shiel, Hazel Brown and Eleanor McLamb; in-laws, Allen and Pamela Whitaker of Salem, S.C.; and brother-in-law, Wes Whitaker and his wife, Sarah Cardone-Dennis of Cumming, Ga.
A memorial service will be held Monday, Aug. 10, at 10 a.m. at Geitner Park in Hickory, N.C.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Jennifer Whitaker to support sarcoma cancer research at one of two institutions. Contributions may be mailed to Duke Cancer Institute Office of Development, 710 W. Main St., Suite. 200, Durham, N.C., 27701, or to The Paula Takacs Foundation for Sarcoma Research, P.O. Box 78416, Charlotte, N.C., 28271.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on August 4, 2015 1:49 PM