Leonard Whatley

Funeral services for Leonard Whatley, 88, of Reynolds will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 11:00 am at Reynolds United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery.

Mr. Whatley passed away on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at his residence with his devoted wife Judy by his side.

Mr. Whatley, respectfully called Dr. Whatley by many in the community, after graduating from the University of Georgia, owned and operated Reynolds Pharmacy for 41 years.  He was a member of Reynolds United Methodist Church where he was a church trustee and chaired numerous committees, also serving as lead singer from the early age of 12.  Known for his beautiful tenor voice, he travelled the southeast with the UGA Glee Club and was requested to sing at countless weddings and funerals. He was a prolific reader, enjoying history and biographies, especially those of American Presidents. He and Judy met on Pearl Harbor day and they later married on D-Day. He was a deep-thinking student of the Bible, taking notes and writing personal commentary in numerous notebooks. He enjoyed and took pride in working in his yard, loved golf and his daily neighborhood walkabouts.  He like to travel, loved the American west and even made a pilgrimage to Israel.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford Edwards Whatley and Mary Monk Whatley; brothers Dr. Edwards Whatley, Clifford Whatley, James Clifford Whatley; sister, Mary Elizabeth Whatley.

Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Judy Whatley of Reynolds; two sons, Mike Whatley (Carolyn) of Acworth, Stuart Whatley of Butler; one daughter, Jill Whatley Wilson (Stan) of Milledgeville; two stepsons, Jim Athon of Oxford, AL and David Athon (Selena) of Chula, GA; two brothers, Billy Whatley of Atlanta, Julian Whatley of Reynolds; eleven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.  

Visitation will be held on Saturday from 10:00 until 11:00 am at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Reynolds United Methodist Church, PO Box 266, Reynolds, GA 31076.

You may sign the online register at www.mcleightonfuneralservice.com

McLeighton Funeral Service of Reynolds is overseeing arrangements.

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