Juanita “JJ” Whitaker, 80, passed away, joining her Lord and Savior, on October 3, 2021, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. JJ was born in Asheville, NC, in 1941. After graduating from high school in Newport News, VA, she went on to receive her Master’s Degree from Old Dominion College. She continued her education to receive her Doctorate in English at the University of Wisconsin. After a teaching career at Hampton Institute, she eventually joined her family’s Real Estate business in Newport News.

The family would like to sincerely thank the caring doctors and nurses in the Riverside system, especially Dr. John F. Miller and his staff at the Peninsula Cancer Institute and Dr. Mark Souther at Riverside Internal Medicine. Also heartfelt thanks to the staff at Riverside Hospice for their sincere care in JJ’s final days.

Juanita was predeceased by her parents, Joseph H. Whitaker and Alma R. Whitaker. Left to cherish her fond memories are her cousins, Joan Collins, Capri Potton, Raylana Kitchen, and Sheryl Wilson, as well as her extended family, David Urbik, Kerry and Chris Wang, Brooklyn and Rose Sentiff. JJ will be especially missed by her cruise buddy, dear friend, and companion, Lainer Urbik.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life to be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 21, 2021, at Williamsburg Community Chapel. The service will be live-streamed at wcchapel.org/whitaker. The CDC highly recommends masks for inside gatherings.

In lieu of flowers and to anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution, please consider donating in JJ’s memory to Williamsburg Community Chapel, 3899 John Tyler Hwy, Williamsburg, VA 23185 (https://wcchapel.org/).

Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News VA 23601.