Keitha Whitaker

Keitha Givens Whitaker, age 75, passed away peacefully at home on July 5, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Keitha was a loving daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother. She devoted her life to social justice and the service of others.

Keitha was born in Dothan, Alabama on December 24th, 1947 to Sybil Grace and Foy Winfred Givens. She was the oldest of three siblings. The family eventually settled in Jackson, Mississippi, where Keitha graduated from Forest Hill High School. She later attended The University of Mississippi, where she met and fell in love with her husband.

After homeschooling her three children, Keitha returned to school and received her BS and Master's degrees from The University of Southern Mississippi. Before retiring, Keitha served as a professional public health social worker, religious education director, adjunct professor, and a tireless volunteer. Her many positions of service included five decades advocating for mothers and children as a breastfeeding counselor and lactation consultant, wildlife rehabilitator, hotline counselor, and activist. She was passionate about building strong, healthy families, securing economic justice, combating racism, and promoting LGBTQIA+ rights.

Keitha is survived by her husband of over 55 years, Robert "Bob" Whitaker, children Heather Alfonso, Andrew Whitaker (Heather Huey), Pippin Whitaker (Steven Lize), grandchildren Mason, Keegan, Aleksy, Kepler, and Owenna, and sister Peggy Hoover (Woody).

Keitha is preceded in death by her parents Sybil Grace Etheridge and Foy Winfred Givens and her brother Mark Givens.

Those wishing to honor Keitha's memory are requested to donate to the Winship Cancer Institute Lymphoma Fund or the Harriet Hancock LGBT Center Foundation.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on August 12th at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens, Georgia, 780 Timothy Rd, Athens GA 30606