Jimmy Ray "Whit" Whitaker

A Celebration of Life Service for Jimmy Ray “Whit” Whitaker, 68 of Corinth, MS, will be Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 2:30 P M at Magnolia Funeral Home – East Chapel with interment to follow in Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery.  Dr. Randy Bostick will officiate the service.  Visitation will be Saturday, July 29, 2023 from 5:00 P M to 8:00 P M and Sunday, July 30, 2023 from 1:00 P M to 2:00 P M at Magnolia Funeral Home – East.  Born August 16, 1954, Coach Whitaker, a member of Oakland Baptist Church, departed his earthly life and entered his heavenly home on Wednesday July 26^th at his residence.  He was a 1974 graduate of Corinth High School where he was a shooting guard for the Warrior’s basketball team. Coach Whitaker proceeded to play basketball for the Northeast Tigers both freshman and sophomore years. From there he graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. Coach Whitakers’ career of teaching began as a special education teacher and ended as the instructor of the G. E. D. program. Along with teaching, he coached many sports throughout the Corinth City and Alcorn School districts, as well as driving a school bus in both districts. During his coaching career, he was assistant to Johnny Mitchell where they won back-to-back State Championships in 1988-1989 and 1989-1990. Although he was an assistant and a head coach of many teams at many schools, Coach Whitaker also had a coaching career with his three daughters from t-ball leagues up to All-Star leagues at the Corinth Y.M.C.A.  Coach Whitaker had a passion, love and knowledge for all sports with favoritism shown towards the Dodgers, the Mississippi State Bulldogs, but most of all, the number one fan of the Dallas Cowboys.   Jimmy is survived by his wife of 44 years, Dianne Wilbanks Whitaker; his daughters, Whitney Callahan, Marley Whitaker and Chelsey Box (Wesley); 10 grandchildren, Landry Callahan, Finley Callahan, Cambrey Callahan, Moxon Callahan, Whit Ashe, Gabbey Tyler Ashe, Lincoln Box, Fletcher Box, Grant Box and Grady Box; his brothers, Ricky Whitaker and Timmy Dale Whitaker; his sister, Lisa Whitaker; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.  He was preceded in death by his father, Thurman Whitaker; his mother, Louise Baldwin Whitaker; his brothers, Danny Whitaker and Ronnie Whitaker; his sisters, Dianne Gray, Linda Whitaker and Gloria Whitaker; his parents-in-law, Leiman and Ilene Wilbanks; his brother-in-law, Elvis Roberts and his aunts, Maxine “Aunt Mac” Fulks and Dora Jean Vassar.  Pallbearers will be Robert Martin, Danny Lynn Smith, Mickey Singleton, Kevin Brawner, George Martin, Vic Mills Andy Greening, Mike Greer, Dr. Randy Bostick, Steve Wilbanks, Pat Palmer and Roger Hilburn. Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Mitchell, Jerry Little, Ricky Null, Lance Floyd, Jackie Atkins, Eric Powell, Rodney Callahan, Ricky Gillentine and special friends of the Northeast Basketball Team of 1974-1976.  Magnolia Funeral Home has been honored to serve the family of Mr. Jimmy Ray Whitaker.