Obituary of Elizabeth Jackson Whinna

Elizabeth (Betty) Jackson Whinna, 93, of Hillsborough, North Carolina died peacefully at home on Wednesday May 3, 2016. Betty was born in Collingswood, New Jersey, May 2, 1924 to F. Herbert Jackson. and Cora Nace Jackson. She graduated from Collingswood High School in New Jersey in 1942 and went on to nursing school at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia with the intent of serving during World War II, but the war ended before she completed her training. After her nursing' training, Betty continued to work at Pennsylvania Hospital. She particularly enjoyed working as an operating room nurse and overseeing the training of other nurses in that area. When her first daughter was born, she switched to private duty nursing. Betty married Charles E. Whinna on June 15, 1946. They lived in Collingswood until Mr. Whinna was hired by General Electric, who then moved them several times over the years until settling in Wilmington, North Carolina for 39 years. As they moved, Betty always created a warm, welcoming and loving home for her family in each new location. In 2007 she and Charles moved to Hillsborough to be nearer family. Most importantly, wherever Betty lived, she served the Lord. In her church, she taught Sunday School and assisted with ladies' groups. After her husband's retirement, the two of them spent their time gleaning, visiting shut-ins, and participating in a weekly prayer group. Betty enjoyed baking, reading, sewing, cross stitching, knitting as well as watching basketball and baseball (especially with her children). She knit dozens of Christmas stockings over the years for any family (and many friends) she knew was having a baby. After her grandchildren arrived, she was sure to go to each birthday celebration and special school event. During the summer, her grandchildren would spend several weeks with their grandparents, going to the beach and enjoying the many different cookies and baked goods that she made. She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Charles E. Whinna, and daughter, Cora Elizabeth Whinna. She is survived by three children, Miriam Whinna Smith (Kevin) of Florence, South Carolina; James Whinna (Karen) of Monroe, North Carolina, and Herbert Whinna (Cheryl) of Hillsborough, North Carolina; eight grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Antioch Baptist Church, 1707 White Cross Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina on Sunday May 7, 2017 at 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or Holt International, 250 Country Club Rd, Eugene, OR 97401. Both organizations have online "In Memory" giving options. For Holt, donations designated for Mrs. Elizabeth Whinna's memorial fund will be used to support the deaf school in the Ethiopian village where two of her granddaughters were born.