Jesse Whittley

SIKESTON - Jesse Whittley Jr., 52, died at 2:25 a.m. Sept. 30, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, of injuries sustained in a traffic/train accident.

Born Feb. 7, 1950, in Sikeston, son of Glenda Kirby Whittley of Sikeston and the late Jesse Whittley Sr., he owned and operated the J.R. Whittley Trucking Company. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he was of the Baptist belief.

On Aug. 10, 1973, in Benton, he married Sharon Griffin who survives of the home.

Survivors in addition to his wife and mother include: one son, Timothy Taylor of Sikeston; one daughter Tracy Whittley of Sikeston; one brother, Benny Cook of Oran; five sisters, Gene Emerson, Louise Coatney and Terrye Mitchell of Sikeston, Sue Webb of Anna, Ill., and Sheila Russell of Waco, Texas; and one granddaughter, Taylor Phillips of Sikeston.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel, where services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday. The Rev. Jim Matthews, pastor of the Red Star Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, will officiate.

The Missouri Military Funeral Honors will conduct full military graveside rites at Forest Hills Memorial Gardens Cemetery near Morley.

Pallbearers will be: Donny Drew, Terry Burton, Robert Hargrove, Buddy Alberson, Mark Coatney and Larry Crowell.

Honorary pallbearers will be: Sammy Alberson, Bob Crowley, Scott Coatney, Kenny Rodgers, Gary Owens and Johnny Ingram.