Roger Wayne Whitt passed away on September 7, 2017, at Decatur General Hospital. He was born on June 19, 1941 in Limestone County, Alabama, to Gilbert Eugene Whitt and Jady Imogene Gladdin Whitt.
Services will be on Sunday, September 10, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at Limestone Chapel funeral home with Bill Perkins and Carl Witty officiating. Visitation will precede the funeral service from 12:00-2:45 p.m. Burial will be at Roselawn Cemetery in Athens.
Mr. Whitt was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Billie Sue McGuire Whitt, parents; sister, Judy Ham; brother, Mike Whitt.
He is survived by his daughter, LeeAnn Whitt Stephens and husband, Johnny, and his son, Chris Whitt and wife, Terry. He has seven grandchildren: Whitney Stephens Moran and husband, Jake, Christen Stephens, Landon Stephens, Hayden Stephens, Cayla Whitt, Zach Whitt and Blake Whitt. He has one great-grandson, Jordan Moran. He is also survived by one brother, Randy Whitt and wife, Madolyn, and one sister, Barbara Powers and husband, Jimmy, several nieces and nephews.
Roger graduated from Athens High School in 1959 and married Billie Sue McGuire on September 30, 1961. He began laying brick with his father as a teenager. He was one of the best brick masons in this area for over 60 years. He was a perfectionist and it definitely was shown in the artistry of his work. His brick work is nothing short of exceptional as can be witnessed all across this area. Daddy was also an incredible guitar player. He taught himself to play the guitar at the age of 15. He had the God-given ability to play anything he wanted on the guitar. He played in several bands over the years, but he is best known for his band playing in the Athens Bible School Musical Explosion for over 35 years. He loved playing music and he loved the musicians that he played with over the years. When Roger was diagnosed with dementia in 2014, he became unable to lay brick any longer; however, he never lost his amazing ability to play the guitar. He was still playing wonderfully a few months ago and we were amazed that he never lost this incredible talent. Roger was also on the Limestone County Board of Education from 2000-2006. He tried to help as many people as he could while he was on the Board of Education. One thing for sure is that if Roger told you he would do something to help you, then you could always count on his word. He was definitely a man of integrity and kept his word if he made you a promise.
Roger was loved by so many and he is going to be dearly missed. Our lives are going to be so empty without Roger and Sue in it every day. It is so hard to believe they are both gone now and we are heartbroken, but the wonderful memories that we have of Roger and Sue will forever be in our hearts.
Roger was a member of Central Church of Christ; however, before attending Central, he attended Ephesus Church of Christ for many years, where he was a wonderful song leader.
Pallbearers will be Zach Whitt, Landon Stephens, Blake Whitt, Hayden Stephens, Jake Moran, and Jeff Wales.
