JOE PAZ WHITAKER SR.

TIMMONSVILLE - Joe Paz Whitaker Sr., 70, died on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at MUSC in Charleston.

Born on Jan. 31, 1954, in Franklinton, North Carolina, he was a son of the late Edsel V. and Mima Joy Champion Whitaker. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was a hardworking man with a heart of gold, who truly loved and valued his family.

Survivors include seven children, Kevin Whitaker, Kat Richards (Sam), Joe Paz Whitaker Jr. (Alicia), Brittany H. Whitaker-Vogt (Swantonie), Brooke N. Whitaker (Jacyn), Jay E. Whitaker Jr. (Chastity) and Julia V. Whitaker; 20 grandchildren, Presley Whitaker, Carslie Richards, Cora Richards, Joe P. Whitaker III, Joslynn Whitaker, Jala Whitaker, Joya Whitaker, James Whitaker, Ian Grant, Noah Grant, Preston Hayes, Angel DuRant, Calvin Sowells Jr., Swantonie Vogt, Swanzhane Vogt, Naeem Vogt, Asher Palmer, Aydin Palmer, Ava Palmer and Jayce Whitaker; three brothers, Whit Whitaker (Jean), Jimmy Whitaker (Judy) and Michael Whitaker (Tammy); three sisters, Ketita Chester (James), Joy Whitaker and Jan Whitaker; special extended children, Nicole Singletary (Brianna Britt), Brittany Hayes, Trent Keels and Shamika Peterson (Elle Gregg); his companion, Penny Hayes; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Peter Whitaker; and two nephews, Mikey Whitaker and Charles Whitaker.

A funeral service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel. Entombment will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Pallbearers will be Kevin Whitaker, Joe P. Whitaker Jr., Joe P. Whitaker III, Trent Keels, Swantonie Vogt and Jacyn Palmer.

The family will receive friends from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.