Dave "Son" Whatley, Jr.

Dave Whatley, Jr., 78 of Franklinton, LA, went home to glory Friday afternoon, November 4th at St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington. He was born at home in McHenry on June 14, 1944, the oldest of three children to Dave, Sr. and Vivian "Tip" (Parker) Whatley. Called "Son" from the time he was born, he grew up in Perkinston and enjoyed the country life. Sitting on the porch with his Grandmaw and Grandpaw Whatley, and working with his PawPaw Jess was the norm. Son had a strong work ethic instilled from his early years, working in the garden, in scrap yard, and whatever needed to be done, was just what he had to do. Son dropped out of school in the eight grade, but later obtained his GED, and took some welding courses at MGCCC. He spent many years working with and for his Pawpaw Jess at Parker's Scrap Metal in McHenry. Son did a bit of it all, travelling around buying pecans, furs, and scrap metal all over the Southeast. He just worked all his life. In recent years, Son enjoyed "peddling" fruits and vegetables. He had just recently went to Vardaman, MS and brought a load of sweet potatoes back to sell. He would sit on the roadside in different places, and was building a small curb market at his home in Franklinton. If you knew him, you know he could spin tales with the best around. Son was truly a character that always had something going, and in his own humble opinion, everybody loved him. Growing up with a Baptist preacher for a father, the gospel message wasn't unfamiliar to him. However, he wasn't "born again" until he was 40 years and 13 days old, which is a story he loved to share as well. Since his salvation experience, Son loved to read his Bible more than ever, often sitting in his recliner with the scriptures in his lap. Having preachers over for meals and going to church was among his favorite things in life and he did that often. Over the years, Son taught his children so much. Manners and respect were at the top of his list, and he lived that as well. Son loved and provided for his family, and took them to church, even before he was born again himself. His love for life and story-telling will be sadly missed by all whose life he touched. Son was preceded by his grandparents on both sides, and his parents, Dave, Sr. and Tip Whatley. Left to cherish his memories are: his loving wife of the past sixteen years, Arlene; his children: three daughters: Regina Bounds, Angela (Billy Ray) Bond, and Abi (Jason) Hendry, all of Perkinston, with one son, Ben (Misty) Whatley of Columbia; two step-children whom he loved dearly: Mary (Chris) Chance of IL, and Marsha (Chris) Vince of Angie, LA; his brother, Reuben (June) Whatley, also of Perk, and his sister Val Klish of Ocean Springs. Son leaves a legacy of seventeen grandchildren: Cassie (Sam) Myers, Brittany (Ronnie) Johnson, Seth (Jerrica) Bond, Heather (Kalan) Cuevas, Benjamin (Mary) Whatley, Samantha (Stephen) Rogers, Trinity and Madison Whatley, Nick Seal, Lauren, Madeline, and Matthew Hendry, Case and Gregory Chance, and Jace, Riley, and Will Vince, with ten great-grands: Taylor, Olivia, Conner, Analeigh, Maze, Caseton, Hayden, Kathelina, Kade, and Knox, along with numerous extended family, neighbors, and friends far and wide, wherever he may have went. Son's Homegoing Celebration will be held at North Spoon Baptist Church, where he has been a faithful member for the past several years. The family will receive friends for visitation Monday evening, Nov. 7th, from 5:30 until 8:30 PM, and again beginning at 10:00 AM Tuesday morning. The service will begin at 11:00 AM with Pastor Billy Ray Bond and Bros. Seth Bond and Ben Whatley officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery, with Bro. Kalan Cuevas officiating there. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to serve the Whatley family in their time of need, and asks that you remember them in your thoughts and prayers over the coming days.