Evelyn Hall Whaley

January 6, 2012

Evelyn C. Whaley joined her heavenly family in eternal peace and glory on Epiphany, January 6th, 2012. Evelyn was born and raised in Catlettsburg, Kentucky by the Reverend Robert C. Hall (1906-1986) and the strong spirited Dova Rigsby Hall (1908-1995). There she enjoyed her early years with her brothers Charles Eugene Hall (1929-2008) and Robert Lowell Hall. She and her brothers grew up surrounded by Rigsby cousins and many friends, especially the Armstrongs, with whom they shared much laughter and made many cherished memories.

Evelyn loved music all of her life. At the age of eight she began playing piano in church and continued playing for nearly seven decades. Evelyn’s music was filled with spirit as she was young at heart and she was always ready to dance. She laughingly celebrated her 39th birthday every August year after year. Evelyn was also a fine seamstress and had an exceptional eye for color and style. She had a great laugh, gorgeous smile, and unshakable faith.

Evelyn married Troy Nile Whaley in 1952 and moved to South Point to begin a family. Her firstborn, Troy Dale Whaley is a retired pharmacist who lives in South Point. Her eldest daughter, Rita Jean Bennett is a musician and lives in North Carolina. Her youngest is Lisa C. Whittle, a medical sales specialist who lives in Colorado.

Evelyn retired from the Ohio Power Company but began her career as a telephone operator. She also served as Village Clerk of South Point, worked as Secretary for Attorney J. Earl Pratt, was a receptionist at the Holiday Inn and teller at First National Bank. She volunteered as pianist and organist at Leatherwood Baptist Church, New Haven Missionary Baptist Church and Solida Baptist Church.

Her family grew to include four beloved grandkids, Kristine and Jonathon Bennett, Christopher and Kyle Whittle and one granddog, Cashmere. They gave her much joy and she loved to hear them sing and play music. She reveled in their many interests and achievements.

Evelyn loved and cared for her family with the greatest of expectations and generosity. She had traveled to North Carolina earlier in the week to nurse Rita through an injury. Her death there was sudden and unexpected, but she was surrounded by family doing what she loved to do best, helping others.

Visitation for friends and family will be from 6 – 8 pm on Friday, followed by a funeral service at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 14th at Slack and Wallace Funeral Home in South Point. The Rev. Charles Lane will officiate. Burial will follow at Highland Memorial Gardens in South Point. Condolences may be expressed at www.slackandwallace.com.