Classmate Gardner Whitfield passed September 13, 2021, of Covid pneumonia.  We extend sympathy to his wife, classmate Rita Thomas Whitfield, and to his sister, classmate Linda Whitfield Chandler.   Condolences may be sent via the website at https://www.brooksandwhite.com/obituaries/Gardner-Lee-Whitfield-Jr?obId=22359670#/obituaryInfo or mailed to:

Rita Whitfield, 70 Sand Trap Ln., Roxboro NC  27574

Linda Chandler, 12 Bridge Point Lane, Semora NC  27343

Obituary via Brooks & White:  

Gardner Lee Whitfield, Jr., 71, of Roxboro, died Monday, September 13, 2021. Born in Person County, he was the son of the late Gardner Lee Whitfield, Sr. and Thelma Estelle Hubbard Whitfield.

Mr. Whitfield was a member of Mt. Harmony Baptist Church. He retired from the Roxboro Fire Department with over 25 years of service having served as a Captain for many years. Gardner enjoyed talking with family and friends, fishing and watching NASCAR races.

Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Rita Thomas Whitfield of the home; two children: Derrick Lee Whitfield and wife, Shannon of McKinney, TX and Paige Whitfield Clayton and husband, Chet of Emerald Isle; sister, Linda Whitfield Chandler and husband, Ronnie of Semora; three grandchildren: Brayden Whitfield, Aubrey Whitfield and Willow Clayton; niece, Angie Dean Poindexter of Roxboro.

Due to COVID-19, the family will not be receiving visitors but those wishing to pay respects may do so from 9AM-5PM Friday, September 24, 2021 at the Brooks & White Funeral Home and from 10-11 AM Saturday, September 25 at Mt. Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery.

Graveside service will be held 11 AM Saturday, September 25, 2021 at the Mt. Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Barry Chambers officiating.

Memorials may be made to Mt. Harmony Baptist Church, 1655 Mt. Harmony Church Road or the Roxboro Fire Department, PO Box 128, Roxboro, NC 27573.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gardner Lee Whitfield, Jr. please visit our Tribute Store.

Classmates Rita (Thomas) and Gardner Whitfield at 50th Class Reunion - June 2019

Gardner with his daughter Paige - Sept 2014

Gardner's daughter, Paige, gave permission to share with the class her Facebook post at 7:30 p.m on 9/13/21.: 

"Well, my daddy passed away. I didn’t know it was possible to hurt this much. Life will never be the same. If you know me at all….you know I was the biggest daddy’s girl in the world. Daddy took his last breaths with me, mom, Derrick, and Linda by his side. Just how he would have wanted. I hope he was able to hear everything we said to him. I know Daddy was a well loved man. He was a wonderful man. He kept his joking personality and shit talking up until the end. He lived his life for his family. He was a perfect husband, a perfect father, and a perfect brother. He was the least selfish person that I know. He saved SO many other peoples lives throughout his career as a fireman. I will live every day of the rest of my life making him proud. I will post details about arrangements as soon as we get there. For now, just please pray for the family. My mom caught Covid as well but she is doing good. We have to give her time to completely heal. Derrick, Chet and I have all tested negative and continue to test negative.

Last Sunday, Dad went to the ER to get a confirmation Covid test after taking an at home test. He didn’t really have any symptoms except he was starting to get a fever and he just felt off. He’s been tested so many times. Anytime he felt off we tested him. He did great for a couple days then he got Covid pneumonia. We all talked to him Wednesday night and he was doing great…joking and talking. We woke up Thursday morning and learned that he had taken a turn for the worse. It was very sudden. Daddy had so many issues the last half of his life. He was a walking miracle. We hung onto hope that he could pull a miraculous recovery….like he did so many times before. Saturday me, mom, and Derrick went in to see him. He had just woken up from being sedated. That night his oxygen went back up to the 90s but that didn’t last long. He fought it hard but his body was just so weak. He lived a great life and had absolutely everything he wanted. I know he loved me more than anything, and little Willow too."

Gardner as a Captain in the Roxboro Fire Dept. where he retired from after over 25 years of service.

https://www.brooksandwhite.com/obituaries/Gardner-Lee-Whitfield-Jr?obId=22359670#/obituaryInfo