Edna Earl Whitaker died Monday, June 20, 2011, at her residence. She was 85.

Born in Vicksburg, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Willard Herring Parsons and Edna Earl Sparks Parsons. Mrs. Whitaker was a graduate of All Saints’ College of Vicksburg and Randolph Macon College in Lynchburg, Va. She was a former member of the Hester Flowers Garden Club, the Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg and the Vicksburg Art Association.

Mrs. Whitaker was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Vicksburg and the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood, serving as an elder in each church.

She is survived by a daughter, Lee Whitaker Lotz (Greg) of Brooksville, Fla.; a son, Thurston M. (Adam) Whitaker of Jackson; one sister, Ruth Parsons Neill Johnson of Port Ludlow, Wash.; several nieces and nephews; and special family friends, Dale T. Hix and Irene Mayfield.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. H. Thurston Whitaker Jr.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Tim Brown officiating. Burial will be at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Riles Funeral Home. Visitation will be at First Presbyterian Church–Ward Hall from 10 a.m. Friday until the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1501 Cherry St., Vicksburg, MS 39180; to the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood, 300 Main St., Greenwood, MS 38930; or to charities of choice.