Marilyn Annette Whitaker

Marilyn (Brinkley) Whitaker
1932 - 2019

Marilyn Annette Whitaker went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, and is survived by her son, James K. Whitaker, Jr. and her sister, Maxine Brinkley White. Her husband, James K. Whitaker, Sr., had the honor and privilege of being married to Marilyn for 60 years before he passed away in August of 2011. Her son, James K., Jr. has had the honor and privilege of having Marilyn as his mother for 60 years.

On July 20, of 1932 Marilyn Annette Brinkley was born, and the world became a little bit brighter., especially for her parents Mack Elliot Brinkley and Mattie Rebecca Spence Brinkley, and her sister Maxine Brinkley. She was born in Orange Memorial Hospital, and she and Maxine would grow up in a house not far from the campus of what is now, Orlando Regional Medical Center. She and Maxine would go to public schools in Orange County, attend Delaney Street Baptist Church and graduate from Orlando High School.

(Story shared by her son, James (Jay) Whitaker, Jr.)
While in High School, Marilyn, and her sister Maxine, would go to a City League basketball game where Maxine's boyfriend Danny, who would later become Maxine's husband (my Uncle Danny) and Jay (my father) played on the same team together. Jay and Uncle Danny loved to play basketball, and Jay would often go to the gym early to dress out and practice. This particular night before this particular game, Jay came running out of the locker room hard and fast to get on the court to practice, and nearly clobbered a young girl. When Jay stopped and apologized to her, his heart nearly stopped because she was so beautiful. It raced even faster when he realized she was with Danny's group! Uncle Danny had come to the game with his sister, his girlfriend Maxine and Maxine's sister Marilyn. Danny introduced Marilyn to Jay after the game and their courtship began. Jay was amazed that not only she and her sister both were Christians, but their parents were as well. I believe Mack and Mattie (Poppie & Memaw to me) loved Jay as much as Marilyn did. After about a year, with Marilyn still a senior in High School, they allowed Jay & Marilyn to marry, but Mack asked that they wait until after she graduated. They were married on May 10, 1951.

My sister Kelly and I both used to love to watch mom and dad together, as far back as I can remember. They modeled so beautifully how to have a meaningful and successful marriage and a selfless commitment to God, each other, and my sister and I, as well as countless family members and friends. Jay & Marilyn were married 60 years before Jay went home to be with the Lord at 86 years of age. He spent his first and last night with Marilyn in the house he had built for them before they were married. Marilyn would live seven more years before going home on March 20, 2019. She was 86 as well. Before she passed, she was richly blessed with not only seven grandchildren, but seventeen great grandchildren as well!

Please come and celebrate the life of Marilyn on Sunday, April 7, 2019, at Journey Christian Church at 2:00 pm.

Journey Christian Church
1965 S. Orange Blossom Trail
Apopka, Florida 32703