Marie J Whitfield

Marie Juanita (Garrison) Whitfield was born on December 23, 1926, in Giles County, (Prospect, Tennessee) to William Buford and Viola Swift Garrison. Of the eleven children born to Marie’s parents, Marie was the fifth child born, and her siblings would often refer to her as “number 5”. She had a rural, modest upbringing and cherished the time with family on their Prospect farm. She picked cotton in the fields to bag and sell at a local store. At an early age, Marie learned how to cook. She would catch chickens on their farm and prepare them for dinner. Marie finished high school in a one-room schoolhouse in Prospect, Tennessee. She and her siblings walked to and from school. Later in life, she walked her children and grandchildren to school. While in Prospect, Tennessee, Marie met George Whitfield, who served in the U.S. Army. They married on January 16, 1950. To their union, six children were born. Since George was in the U.S. Army, the young couple moved every few years, and Marie gave birth to her children in Kentucky, Virginia, and her last and youngest child was born in Chicago, Illinois, where they finally settled down. In 1967, the family moved to London Towne, a townhome neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. When Marie’s youngest child graduated from high school, Marie felt it was time for her to start to work outside of the home. She was great with numbers and money and sought a retail position at Gately’s department store in Roseland in the late 70s. She worked there for a few years and then was employed with Sears Roebuck & Company on 79th Street on Chicago’s South Side in the home decor section. Marie was known for her expertise in drapery and interior design recommendations and she could sew well by hand. She remained at Sears for over a decade until retiring in 1997. Marie and George were married for 46 years, and even after their marriage ended, they remained a family and celebrated holidays with the children and grandchildren. After retiring, Marie enjoyed a slower life. She remained active, and since she had never received a driver’s license she insisted on walking or taking public transportation, as needed, to keep active physically and mentally. She wanted to maintain her independence for as long as possible. Marie loved to watch sports on television and enjoyed watching baseball and her favorite basketball team, the Bulls. Family time was regular, and gatherings were held often at the family’s home. She loved music, and you could find her occasionally humming, clapping her hands, tapping her foot, or even dancing. She was wise and gave sage advice. Marie was a woman of great faith and resilience. She loved to read memoirs, the newspaper, and her Bible. Marie was a member of Christ Community Church and eventually joined the choir. Marie attended church until she was no longer capable of physically attending. Her daughter Joyce began to care for Marie in 2022, and Marie would often sit and look out of a window, sing hymnals, and hum. Over the last year, Marie said often to her grandchildren and family, “God is your father, and we will be alright.” Even in her last few months, she remained talkative, continued to sing, and remained feisty. Marie will be remembered for her unconditional gift of love, laughter, faith, unwavering support, cooking, and her overall authenticity. Marie formed some great friendships through communities where she lived, classmates in her hometown, work colleagues, and church members. Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Buford and Viola Garrison; daughters, Ella Gywneth “Gwyn”, Joyce Elaine, and Bernadette; sons Bruce, Kenneth “Kenny” and Travis, and their father, George W. Whitfield. Marie leaves behind to cherish her memory her sister Delores Taylor; her granddaughters, Jeneen Whitenhill, Cherie Meador (Rashaan), Nichae Whitenhill, and Bonita Whitfield; grandson, Sean Whitfield and her great-grandsons, Nasir and Marcus; great-granddaughters Peyton and Nadia; son-in-law, Norman Whitenhill, and daughter-in-law, Renee Whitfield and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, and London Towne neighbors.

Marie J Whitfield

December 23, 1926 - March 16, 2024

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Marie J Whitfield

December 23, 1926 - March 16, 2024

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