DATE: Wednesday, July 23, 1997              TAG: 9707230397

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: COMO                              LENGTH:   70 lines

SADIE B. WHITLEY

Sadie Mae Burbage Whitley, 80, of Route 1, Statesville Road, died July 21, 1997, in Roanoke Chowan Hospital.

Mrs. Whitley was born in Hertford County and was the widow of R. Gilbert Whitley. She was a member of Buckhorn Baptist Church, where she had served as Sunday school teacher of all age groups and was currently the director of the youth department and of Vacation Bible School. She was an active member of the Women's Missionary Union for 62 years, having served in all areas of office including the current director.

She had served as past leader of the Sunbeams, R.A.'s, G.A.'s, and Acteen's youth groups. Mrs. Whitley also served in many areas of the West Chowan Baptist Association, having served as Baptist Women's director, girls auxiliary director and past director for enlistment/enlargement. She also served as association director for 10 years of summer camps at Chowan College for the Royal Ambassadors and girls auxiliary and was presently serving on the executive committee, and she was instrumental in the Association WMU Cookbook project. She was also a member of the American Bible Society.

Sadie Whitley began the local 4-H club in 1952 and served as adult leader in all levels - county, district and state - until present. She led the local 4-H club members in achieving county, district and state demonstration winners. She prepared the 4-H members in all projects, including the 4-H electric projects and attended many state 4-H Electric Congresses with local club members. She has been honored as the recipient of the Adult Leaders Award after 25 years of service and also received the District Adult Leader Award and the County Alumni Award. She received the North Carolina Volunteer Leader Recognition in 1996.

Mrs. Whitley was a member of the North Carolina Extension Homemakers, where she served as president on local, district and state levels and received the A&P Co.'s Leadership Award.

She was an active volunteer for many worthy organizations including the American Red Cross fund drive and was a past home services representative for Armed Services; the American Cancer Association, where she was a past county and local chairman and received the Outstanding Service Award; and the American Heart Association, where she was past county and state president of the heart fund and the chairman of the Hertford County rural area fund drive. She served on the North Carolina State Board of Directors of the Heart Fund and has received the Bronze and Silver Medallion Awards from the North Carolina Heart Association for Meritorious Service.

She served on the Murfreesboro Board of Education and served as president of the Murfreesboro School Parent-Teacher Association. She also served on the board of Visitors of Chowan College. She was a member of the Murfreesboro Historical Association and the Watermelon Festival Planning Committee.

Mrs. Whitley was a member of the Hertford County Democratic Women and served as president of the organization. She also served as Maney's Neck precinct chairman. She was also a trustee of Maney's Neck Community Building.

In 1976, she was listed in Outstanding Personalities of the South. Other awards included Outstanding Women in Agriculture district award in 1984; the Hertford County Farm Bureau Award of Honor in recognition of devoted and distinguished service to agriculture in 1982; the Como Ruritan Club Citizen of the Year in 1989; was recognized four times as the Mother of the Year; received the Book of Golden Deeds from the Murfreesboro Exchange Club in 1978.

Survivors include a daughter, Elaine Whitley Harris and husband, Willie, of Elm City; a son, R.O. ``Dick'' Whitley and wife, Crystal, of Como; two sisters, Ruth Burbage Davis of Courtland and Myra Burbage Simmons of Chester; brother, S.T. Burbage Jr. of Como; grandchildren, Sharon Isley of Burlington, Sandra Banks of Chesapeake, Kathy Thompson of Murfreesboro and Kelli Whitley of Como; and seven great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be conducted at 4 p.m. Thursday in Buckhorn Baptist Church by the Revs. Larry Allen and Delbert Burnett. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the home of Mrs. Whitley, Route 1, Box 62, Statesville Road, Como. Memorial donations may be made to the Como Rescue Squad or to Buckhorn Baptist Church Organ or Cemetery Fund, Como, N.C., 27818. Garrett Funeral Home, Murfreesboro, is in charge. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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