ROANOKE, VA. — A graveside service for Mary Elisabeth “Liz” Whelchel of Roanoke, VA will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 11, 2016 at Sunnyside Cemetery.  The family will greet friends prior to the service at Rainey Family Funeral Services Thursday from 10:00 until time to depart for the cemetery.
Liz, 84, a loving mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully at home on February 8, 2016.  She was born and raised in Cordele the only child of the late James Duke Felder and Birdie Lewis Felder. With Southern charm and genuine interest in others, she truly never met a stranger. Liz graduated with a degree in Sociology from Wesleyan College in Macon which helped prepare her for a busy life as a mother of four children, Navy wife of 20 years and, later, a career as a social worker and counselor.
Liz enjoyed gardening and cooking for her family, reading the newspaper, and completing her daily crossword puzzle. Her greatest joy, however, was spending time with her children and, even more, her precious twin granddaughters.
Preceding her in death were sons James David Whelchel and Thomas Lee Whelchel. She is survived by son Henry Cowan Whelchel III and his wife Rebecca Ketron of Virginia Beach, daughter Mary Elisabeth Whelchel and her husband Mark Taylor, and granddaughters Elisabeth and Madeleine Taylor of Roanoke.
The first Watermelon Queen of Crisp County, Liz was beautiful on the inside and outside. She also possessed a great sense of humor, a sharp wit, and was an incredibly strong woman who endured her share of challenges and heartache, including the loss of two sons.
The family extends special thanks to Dr. Adel Salama and the staff at Jefferson Internal Medicine for their kind and compassionate care. The family will hold a celebration of Liz’s life at a later date and asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Angels of Assisi in Roanoke Va., or to your favorite charity.
Arrangements are being handled by Rainey Family Funeral Services. An online guest register is available at www.raineyfuneral.com