Kinston, NC - Eleanor “Ellen” Grainger Whitaker, 83, went to be with her Lord on May 21,
2021 after an extended illness. She was the daughter of the late Marvin Murray Whitaker and
the late Eleanor Edwards Whitaker both of Kinston, NC. Ellen was born in Tientsin, China where her father was affiliated with the British American Tobacco Company. After the Japanese entered World War II, Ellen and her mother returned to Kinston while her father was a prisoner of war by the Japanese until 1944. While in Kinston, Ellen and Eleanor lived at “Sarahurst”, the Grainger family home, at the top of Queen Street. Ellen treasured growing up with her extended family and as an only child, she considered her first cousins as siblings. Ellen lived in Kinston most of her life except for a few years in the Far East and briefly in Raleigh.
Ellen graduated from Grainger High School and Duke University. She began a 30 year
career in teaching both in Raleigh and Kinston. Her students affectionately called her “Miss
Whit”. She was a lifelong member of Queen St. United Methodist Church where she served in
various capacities including, the Administrative Board, the Board of Trustees and the Choir.
Ellen had a beautiful voice, she loved to sing and play the piano and did so well into her 80’s.
She was an active member, volunteer and leader in a wide variety of organizations and served
her community in many capacities. Ellen was one of the founders of the Women’s Auxiliary of
the Salvation Army and also served as a volunteer at ICOR (Kinston InterChurch Outreach).
With her husband Jeff, she was a regular volunteer at Mary’s kitchen. She was a member of the Lenoir-Pitt Committee of the National Society of Colonial Dames, the Reviewer’s Book Club, and The Marathon Club. Ellen was a great lover of dogs and had rescues all of her life. She was a founding member of the Lenoir County SPCA serving as President, Treasurer and a volunteer.
Ellen met the love of her life, the late Thomas Jefferson “Jeff” Whitaker and they married
in 1993. Jeff and Ellen loved to travel. After retiring from teaching, Ellen became a travel agent
which allowed them to travel the world together to places including Tientsin, China, her
birthplace and Shanghai, China, Jeff’s birthplace. Hawaii, Singapore, Bora Bora, Greece, and
Italy were a few of their favorite destinations. Ellen is survived by four step daughters, Patricia
W. Angell of Boise, ID, Nancy W. Morris of Farmville, VA, Terry Jane Gottleib of Sandy Hook, CT and Anne B. McEwan of Southbridge, MA; and one stepson Dr. Dane M. Whitaker, DMV of San Francisco, CA. She is also survived by her godson, Patrick Archie Chavez, of Pacific Palisades, CA.
Special thanks to her cousins Eleanor Grainger White Hunter, Sarah Elizabeth Waters
and Martha Mayo for their loyal caring of both Jeff and Ellen in their later years. Ellen will be
missed by a number of cousins, and a host of other family and friends. A memorial service will
be held at Queen St. United Methodist Church on Friday, May 28, 2021 at 2 o’clock in the
afternoon. A private burial with immediate family will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Lenoir County SPCA or Queen Street United Methodist Church Music Fund.
The family appreciates the care from 3HC in Kinston and all the staff at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro, NC.