Obituary of Margie Fay Butler Whatley

Funeral services for Margie Fay Butler Whatley are scheduled for 11 AM, Friday, August 16, 2024, at the Bastrop United Pentecostal Church, with Rev. Dwight Fulton officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 10 AM. A private interment will take place in the Azalea Rest Cemetery, Old Scenic Highway, Zachary, LA. Additionally, on Saturday, August 17, 2024, family and friends will gather in remembrance at 1:00 PM, hosted by Grace Church of Central, 13845 Hooper Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70818 Margie Whatley was born June 7, 1928, in Jena, LA, and passed away August 12, 2024, in Madison, TN. She completed vocational training in Ferriday, and achieved certifications in clerical and administrative duties, which she used to benefit her employers. She worked for Natchez Area Chamber of Commerce in her early career. Margie later worked for, and retired from, Georgia Pacific in Port Hudson, LA. Not satisfied with full retirement, she returned to work for Louisiana State University, in the School of Education. As a career woman, Margie was active in her Business and Professional Women organization. As a lifelong learner, she went from dictation and shorthand, to manual typewriters, to Microsoft Office applications, before she could no longer use a computer. Margie grew houseplants and kept a greenhouse for many years. On her 90th birthday, she received a commendation from the Louisiana House of Representatives. However, she was quick to tell anyone that she was “not old, just well ripened.” Margie loved the Bible and singing hymns, loved to feed and serve visitors, and loved Jesus. She is survived by her daughters, Dennise Whatley Huffman (White House, TN) and husband Richard, Delene Whatley Rawls (Caddo, OK) and husband Jamie; daughter-in-law, Annette Cannon Whatley (Denham Springs); brothers, Davis Butler (Covington, LA), Donald Butler (St. Louis, MO); grandchildren, Kari Clary Thomas (Quitman, LA) and husband Wayne, Sara Brannon (Hendersonville, TN), Christopher Whatley (Denham Springs, LA) and wife Casey, Rachel Lautigar Baudoin and husband Joshua, Roman James Hensley Rawls; great-grandchildren, Ashton Thomas, Larsen Thomas, Noah Whatley, Jackson Thomas, Joseph Whatley; a host of nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones, including bonus family, Glen and Lydia Clary, Candee Clary Moore and husband Cliff, Claire Moore and Carter Moore, and Jake and Katie Watts. Margie is preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin H. Butler (Jena, LA) and Isalee Corley Butler (Jena, LA); husband, Isaac E. Whatley (Zachary, LA); daughter, Dorthice Whatley Clary (Jonesboro, LA); son, C.Garvin Whatley (Denham Springs, LA); sister, Fairlean Butler Cupples; brothers, Melvin Delo Butler (Pineville, LA), John Marlin Butler (Vidalia, LA), Benjamin Hensley Butler (Vicksburg, MS), Ronald Butler (Jena, LA); grandchildren, Martin Bijou and Chad Whatley. Serving the family as pallbearers will be Wayne Thomas, Joshua Baudoin, Roman Rawls,Larsen Thomas, Noah Whatley (honorary), Jackson Thomas, Joseph Whatley (honorary). In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial contributions may be made to the Bastrop United Pentecostal Church Ladies Auxiliary via Venmo to @bupcimpactstudents. Memorials may also be mailed directly to the church at P.O. Box 682, Bastrop, LA 71220.