Abe Whitfield passed away on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at Magnolia Regional Health Center in Corinth, Miss., after a brief illness. He was born in Corinth on November 29, 1948. Abe gave his life to Christ as a young man and was a member of Oakland Baptist Church.

In 1962, Mr. Whitfield began his restaurant career working at Jack n’ Jill, followed later by other restaurants along Highway 72, and as he did so, he listened to mentors and cultivated the skills necessary to ultimately become a successful restaurant owner and chef in his own right.

One day during his shift at Sherrah’s (Sherer's Burgers & Shakes), Mr. Whitfield met Terri Lynn Oaks for the first time. In 1972, Abe married Terri, and the rest is history… In less than two years after their marriage, Abe and his beloved bride officially opened the doors of Abe’s Grill on March 11, 1974.

Along with shuffling the duties of husband and restaurant owner, Mr. Whitfield became the proud father of his son, Ryan, in 1976. Shortly after, in 1978, his baby girl, Abbey, would be her daddy’s joy.

Over 54 years of marriage, 52 years of working alongside his wife, and 20 years working with his son, Mr. Abe had a full and memorable life filled with quality time. He worked hard so his family could collect memories as they road-tripped coast-to-coast. He loved traveling to Florida and catching a sunset on the beach, eating at Capt. Anderson’s by the dockside window, or making an unplanned escape to Key West to celebrate a wedding anniversary. In addition to these special times, Mr. Whitfield enjoyed riding around, talking, eating breakfast with his early-morning friends, and chatting with friends near and far about how much he loved Corinth, remarking on “how pretty the drive is on Highway 72 from Memphis to Chattanooga.”

Above all, Abe loved his family and made sure they enjoyed a very good, wonderful life.

Mr. Whitfield was preceded in death by his parents James Otis Whitfield and Essie Dee Wroten Whitfield; brothers Billie Whitfield, Jack Whitfield, and James Whitfield; and a nephew, Randy Whitfield. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Terri Lynn Oaks Whitfield, a son, Ryan Abie Whitfield (Melody); and a daughter, Abbey DeeLynn Whitfield, both of Corinth; two grandchildren, Anna Grace Reed Burton (Bryan) of Louisville, Miss., and Roman Abie Whitfield of Corinth; a great-grandson, Carter Brooks Burton of Louisville, Miss.; nephew Rick Whitfield (Cheryl) of Houston, Texas; niece, Darlene Kennedy of Cherokee, Ala.; great-nephew Carson Whitfield of Houston, Texas; and great-nieces Katie Whitfield Norman (Eric) of Houston, Texas, and Darby Kennedy of Nashville, Tenn.

Magnolia Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements for the service to be held at Oakland Baptist Church on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Visitation is 1:00-3:00 PM, and the Memorial Service begins at 3:00 PM.

Instead of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made to Oakland Baptist Church, First Baptist Church-Corinth, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.