Willie Witherspoon

Mrs. Willie Lee Witherspoon was born February 10, 1923 to the late Leroy & Willianna Staten in Uniontown, AL.  Upon the premature passing of her biological mother, her father united in marriage with Clara Staten who became the mother to Willie Lee and her 8 siblings.  Leroy (Dorothy) Staten, Bishop Gaston Staten(Laverne), Bennell (Mary) Staten, Tommy (Sarah)Staten, Leatha (Carter) Catlin, Beatrice (George) Moore, Lucille Mitchell, and Rebecca (Henry) Catlin. She attended and graduated from Perry County Training School.  Her secondary education came by way of Selma University.  Upon graduation she taught school for several years in the Marengo County School System. She confessed Christ at an early age and joined St. John Baptist Church (Uniontown, AL).  During this time, she met Walter Witherspoon, they were married and from this union six children were born.  They later moved to Bessemer, Alabama and joined Sixth Avenue Beulah Baptist Church, where she served faithfully in numerous capacities until her health began to fail. She was preceded in death by her husband Walter Witherspoon, her sons, Walter Ray and Leroy Witherspoon and her granddaughter Ja’net Holt-Carr. She leaves a devoted family to cherish her memories:  Robert (Mildred) Witherspoon, Bessemer AL, Norvel (Charlene) Witherspoon, Bessemer AL, Gwendolyn (Benton) Thomas, Hueytown AL, and Barbara Jean Holt, Barstow, CA.  Six grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and a host of loving nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.