Shafer - Whitley
DUDLEY — Joanna Jean Whitley and David Clay Shafer exchanged vows in a double-ring ceremony Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Sleepy Creek Club, with the Rev. Gene Wells officiating.
The bride is the daughter of Ricky D. Whitley and Jerri York Whitley of Elm City and the granddaughter of Clarence D. Whitley, Jean Whitley, Joan G. York and the late James E. York of Dudley.
She graduated from Community Christian School and attends Wilson Technical Community College for an Associate of Science degree. She is employed part-time as a nursing assistant at Spring Arbor of Wilson.
The groom is the son of Gale H. Shafer and Susan Cobb Shafer of Wilson and the grandson of Clyde Shafer, the late Mariam Shafer and the late Ernest and Ruby Cobb of Wilson.
He graduated from James Madison High School. He is employed as shop foreman at Shafer Industrial Services of Elm City.
The bride was escorted by her father and given in marriage by her parents.
She wore a strapless A-line gown of white bridal satin with an organza overlay. The shirred bodice was accented with a pearl and rhinestone edging. Scattered pearls and rhinestones highlighted the bodice and the skirt, which flowed into a chapel train.
Her headpiece was a fingertip-length, double-tiered veil accented with scattered crystals.
The bride carried a cascading bouquet of white and red tiger lilies.
Ashley Garren served as her friend’s maid of honor.
Gale Shafer was his son’s best man.
Ushers were Brandon Whitley, brother of the bride; Gale Shafer Jr. and Clyde Shafer II, brothers of the groom; and Jeremy Hattenstein, friend of the couple.
Wanda Best and Kathy Fischel, aunts of the bride, directed the wedding. Presiding at the register were Sierra Hill and Matt Paszkewicz, friends of the couple. David and Joyce Griffin, uncle and aunt of the groom, distributed programs.
Brittany and Mikhaela Whitley, cousins of the bride, were train carriers.
Following the ceremony, the bride’s parents held a reception at Sleepy Creek Clubhouse. Robbie Lamm, friend of the couple, was director. Kathy Fischel, aunt of the bride, served the wedding cake.
After a wedding trip to the Shenandoah Mountains in Virginia, the couple reside in Wilson.
Events held before the wedding included a bridal luncheon Sept. 23 hosted by the bride’s mother; a dinner Sept. 15 at Griff’s Steakbarn hosted by David and Joyce Griffin, uncle and aunt of the groom; a miscellaneous bridal shower Aug. 26 at the home of Joan York, grandmother of the bride, hosted by Sylvia Fennell, Wanda Best, Kathy Fischel, Cristal Marriner and Amy Finkler, aunts of the bride; and a miscellaneous bridal shower July 30 hosted by Cherie and Sierra Hill, friends of the couple.
The groom’s parents held a rehearsal dinner at their home.
By News-Argus Staff
Published in Weddings on October 22, 2006 3:31 AM