Ann Avera Whittemore

Ann Avera Whittemore

Raised in Oglethorpe, GA, she was one of ten children born to Thomas Binion Avera and Ruth Webb Avera. Growing up, she was a member of the Oglethorpe Baptist Church in Macon County. In 1962, she graduated from Reynolds High School and later attended Massey Business College in Atlanta.

In Atlanta, she worked for C&S Bank where she met her future husband Donald L. Whittemore, Jr. After their wedding in 1966, they relocated to Miami, Florida where their son, Thomas Avera Whittemore, was born. In 1970, they moved to Tampa, Florida, and in 1973, their daughter, Mary Cecelia Whittemore, was born. During their seventeen years in Tampa, Ann and Don were active members of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, where Ann later worked as bookkeeper. In 1982, she joined the office staff of St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School, where both children attended.

In 1987, Ann and Don moved to Pensacola, Florida. During their time in Pensacola, Ann volunteered in the front office at Booker T. Washington High School and later worked as the church secretary at Redeemer Lutheran Church.

In 1998, she and Don moved to Athens where she worked for the university at The Georgia Center and later as an administrative assistant to Dr. Michael Adams, then president of UGA. While in Athens, she enjoyed living in close proximity to her siblings and many nieces and nephews. She retired from the university in 2012.

After her retirement, Ann served as a volunteer cashier in the St. Mary’s Hospital gift shop. She also became a devoted member of the Alps Road Presbyterian Church.

Everywhere she lived and worked, Ann gained the respect of her colleagues and made lifelong friends. She will be remembered for her love of lunch dates with friends, her enthusiastic cheering during Georgia Football games, and her devotion to family.

Mrs. Whittemore was preceded in death by her husband of thirty-seven years and by her brothers Bennie, Calvin, Joel, Dan, and Ernest Avera and sisters Dorothy Powell and Adina Bailey.

Survivors include her son and his wife Vicki Harnage Whittemore of Fernandina Beach, FL; her daughter and her husband Bayard Faithfull of Simsbury, Connecticut; grandson Noah Faithfull; brother Paden Avera; sister Tomlyn Avera; and many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Whittemore’s family is incredibly grateful to the kind nurses and staff at Amedisys Hospice who showed much love and care in her last days.

Funeral service details for Mrs. Whittemore will be announced.

Lord and Stephens, West is in charge of arrangements.