Leila Joan Tye Whitaker

Leila Joan Tye Whitaker passed away on September 3, 2025 at Lexington Medical Center after a long battle with ALS. She was born in Nashville, Georgia on September 14, 1942 and was the beloved daughter of the late William Ross Tye and Leila Jane Bates Tye. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her sister Jane Ross Tye Jordan of Hickory, North Carolina and step mother Dorothy Howard Tye of Perry, Georgia.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years Robert (Bob) Herman Whitaker, daughter Tara Whitaker Beldner and husband Matthew Beldner of Charleston, South Carolina and her three grandchildren Dawson Thomas Beldner, Harrison Cole Beldner and Briggs Matthew Beldner. She is also survived by her son Robert Tye Whitaker, wife Marty Rawl Whitaker and their three sons Bates, Weston, and Rawl of Chapin, South Carolina as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Leila grew up in Harlem, Georgia where she was active with 4-H and the Harlem United Methodist Church. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Home Economics and went on to be an educator for over 10 years teaching kindergarten, 5th and 7th grades as well as establishing an in-home day care. In her later years, she was a volunteer at Lexington Medical Center where she went on to be employed in the gift shop for 18 years; however, her greatest joy was her love of being a wife, mother, homemaker and a Gigi to her three grandsons Dawson, Harrison, and Briggs.

Leila was known for her love of cake decorating, gardening, sharing her faith and her infectious desire to do for others. She was a long-time member of Mt. Horeb Church in Lexington, South Carolina where she taught Sunday School, worked with the communion prep team, the new member team, and was a member of the Discipleship Sunday School Class as well as the Gospel Bees Small Group.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Mt. Horeb Church at 1205 Old Cherokee Road in Lexington, South Carolina on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 2:00pm. Visitation will be prior to the service from 1:00pm until 2:00pm with a grave side service following immediately afterwards.

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