Girthel Oletha Cantrell Whitaker, 85 of Steens, MS passed away Friday, March 11, 2022, at Generations of Vernon, Vernon, AL.

A graveside service will be held at a later date at Memorial Gardens, Aberdeen, MS.  Lowndes Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Girthel was born in Belzoni, MS the 6 ^th day of July 1936 to Dee and Perlie Lewis Cantrell.  She is a member of Kolala Springs Baptist Church, Caledonia, MS.  Girthel retired from Columbus Schools as a cafeteria manager with 20 years of service.  She loved to travel, go to county music shows and bluegrass festivals which she and her husband did almost 20 years after retirement.  She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Gene Allen Whitaker, and three daughters – Regina & Les Wozniak, Columbus, MS, Gloria Whitaker, Columbus, MS, and Sheila & Mark Durden, Millport, AL; six grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren; sisters – Shirley Beard, Columbus, MS, Opal & George Munford Holliday, FL, Sue and Tony Brock, Millport, AL; brother – Hoyett Cantrell, Praire, MS and several nieces and nephews.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers – Rayburn and Raford Cantrell, sister – Eudnith Chaffin.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105.