Myra Elizabeth “Tince” Sutton Whisenant, 96, of the Allens Crossroads Community died Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at Crestwood Hospital in Huntsville. Mrs. Whisenant was born June 23, 1927, in Marshall County to Willie and Margaret Holt Sutton. She was the first born of 15 siblings. She was a homemaker most of her adult life and served as a “Rosie the Riveter” during World War II.
She married her childhood sweetheart, Melvin H. Whisenant on January 9, 1945, just before he shipped off to Germany during World War II. They were married nearly 50 years at the time of his death in December 1994. They had 7 children, 13 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great grandchildren and two more are due this year. She was her family’s rock. She was Maw Maw Tince to her grandchildren and all their friends. If you met her, she was “Maw Maw Tince” to you, too.
Mr. and Mrs. Whisenant were founding members of the Brindlee Mountain Saddle Club and served many roles in the club over the years. They also were managers of Marshall County Park #2 in the 1980s. She was also a past member of the Good Sam’s RV Club and the American Legion Auxiliary. She loved growing flowers, working in her yard, cooking for her family and friends and visiting. Before her health declined, she also enjoyed traveling with friends and family.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, Willie and Margaret Sutton; her husband: Melvin H. Whisenant; son and daughter-in-law: Billy Wayne and Linda Whisenant, sons: James Terry Whisenant and Kenneth Melvin Whisenant; daughter Annette Whisenant McCourt; grandsons: George Walter and Clay Smith; brothers: Buddy Sutton, Junior Sutton, Leamon Sutton, Ray Sutton, James Sutton, Dan Sutton, Truman Sutton, Grady Sutton, Max Sutton and Neal Sutton.
She is survived by her son: Donnie Whisenant; daughters: Shirley “Ganner” Thomas and Debbie Criscoe and son-in-law Steve Criscoe; grandchildren, Charles Whisenant (Amanda), Gayla Shedd, Rodney Whisenant, Kevin Whisenant, Kim Johnson (Lance), Kreig McCourt, Jeremy Criscoe (Maranda), Julie Criscoe, Terry Whisenant, Rena Whisenant and Amy Reynolds (Jeremy); 29 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren; brothers: Levone Sutton (Susan) and Ricky Sutton; sister, Mary Jo Collins (Ronald) and Janice Wray (Doyle); and a host of nieces and nephews and friends.
Visitation is from noon to 1 p.m. at Brindlee Mountain Chapel on U.S. 231 in Morgan City Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, with funeral services to follow at 1 p.m., with Bro. Greg Stone officiating and her grandson, Charles Whisenant, delivering the eulogy. Burial is to follow in Mount Olive Cemetery near Morgan City with Gober Funeral Chapel directing.
