Charlotte Whitby

SERVICES HAVE BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

Charlotte Elaine Whitby, 67, of St. Pauls, passed away peacefully at her home Thursday evening March 5, 2020, surrounded by her loving family and friends after a long battle with cancer. She was born November 9, 1952 in Cranston, RI to Otto Henry Bloomingburg of Sebastian, FL and the late Barbara Emily Hart of Gales Ferry, CT. She led a full life being a wife and mother who was involved with her children’s many school activities. She played women’s softball and took up bowling until she gave it up due to medical concerns. Charlotte “Elaine” married Karl F. Whitby on September 11, 1992 in Spring Lake, NC. She was a natural at being a true military wife engaged in the lives of the soldiers in her husband’s units. She invested 12 years as the unit Family Readiness Group Leader for the 861st QM Co (AERS) in Nashville, TN and for the 824th QM Co (ADO) Fort Bragg, NC. At this time she began working with AutoZone as a cashier and then became a parts deliverer for Commercial Accounts. When Karl transferred to Ft. Bragg, she transferred, too, with AutoZone. Elaine became active with the First Baptist Church of St. Pauls. She loved singing in the church choir, teaching Sunday School to youngsters, and leading a summer bible school class for 2 years. She was baptized in the church she had grown to love and developed a never ending relationship with God. Even with a busy life of her own, she found time to be involved with her husband’s retired military activities such as, 824th Alumni, American Legion, ROA, AQM, and Red Hat Chapter parachute riggers. She attended events with the FILI and the Women’s Club of Fayetteville (now the Heritage Square Preservation Society). She found the time to travel to Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand and more than 25 states. Some of her proudest moments were standing in the receiving line while attending Military Balls with her husband in uniform. Elaine was proud to be a military wife and always supported her husband, Karl. Near the end of her brave fight with cancer she reaffirmed her belief in God and was at peace until the very end. In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Mari-ellen Reed. She is survived by her husband, Karl F. Whitby; daughter, Bridget Collen Reed of Banford, CT; son, Raymond Reed and his wife Janet Pulsifer of  Vail, CO; grandchildren, George Willard Chamberlin, Haley Reed, April Reed, Juniper Lynn Reed and Judson William Reed, Amber Rane Wilkes and her husband Jeremy Wayne Wilkes of Colorado Springs, CO; stepdaughter, Angela L. Jackson and her husband, James-Keith Jackson of St. Pauls, NC; sisters, Robin Shay of Cheshire, CT and Barbara Ann Sink of Gallatin, MO and brother, Gary Bloomington of Hillard, OH; and many nieces and nephews. Elaine will be missed by her family and friends and the many people whose lives she touched. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday March 21, 2020 at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church of St. Pauls. There will be Celebration of Elaine’s Life from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm on Sunday March 22, 2020 at the Mash House, 4150 Sycamore Dairy Rd., Fayetteville, NC. The family suggests memorial contributions to a cancer foundation of your choice in memory of Elaine, in lieu of flowers. McNeill Mackie Funeral Home of St. Pauls is serving the family.