Elnora R. Whitley

Elnora “Puddin” Lee Whitley, 88, was born November 3, 1933, to the blessed union of the late Horace and Edith Robinson. She entered eternal rest on Wednesday February 23, 2022, at her home in Smithfield VA. A native of Isle of Wight County, Elnora was a woman of faith and strength. She loved the Lord and her family. Her grandchildren were her heart. She fought a good fight knowing the Lord was with her. She has finished her race. Elnora was a loving and kind person who loved to travel. She also loved to cook and sing. She was a member of Campbell’s Chapel A.M.E. Where she served in the Senior Choir, Golden Age Choir, B.C. Heritage Community Choir, Missionary Society, Lay Organization, Trustee and Sunday School. She retired from Gwaltney of Smithfield after over 30 years of service. Her life-long dream was to be a nurse. After she retired, she attended Paul D. Camp College and earned her CNA License which she used to serve as a caregiver for several years. Caring for others came naturally to her. As a teenager, she took on the care for her younger siblings, after her mother’s death, when her youngest brother was less than 2 years old. Elnora was preceded in death by her sons; Milton Sears and Kevin Whitley; sisters, Vernie B Newsome, Lillie Mae Robinson and Eunice Brown; brothers, Horace Jr, Clarence, Marvin and Theodore Robinson; and granddaughter, Makita Whitley. She leaves to cherish her memory seven children; Linwood Robinson of Franklin VA, Vernetta Anderson (Brad) of Detroit MI, Marilyn McCray of Portsmouth VA, Melvin Whitley Jr of Carrollton VA, Reginald Whitley Sr (BJ) of Woodbridge VA, Karen Himple of Smithfield VA, Marsha Palmer of Suffolk VA; two sisters, Jonie Ann Davis of Carrollton VA and Hortense Harrell of Smithfield VA; one brother, William Robinson (Lillian) of Hampton VA; sister-in-law, Teresa Croker of Smithfield VA; brother-in-law, Thomas Whitley (Mary) of Smithfield VA; grandchildren; Tremayne McCray, Kyna McCray, Torre’ Robinson, Byron Himple, Steven McCray, Jamaal Palmer, LaToya Gregg (Gary}, Antoine Whitley (Tiffany), Courtney Brown, Shawn Hagans (George), Shanika Whitley, Caressa Palmer, Carmen Anderson, Regina Whitley and Reginald Whitley Jr; 10 great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. The Celebration of Life Service will be held 11am Friday, March 04, 2022 at Campbell's Chapel AME Church in Carrollton, Virginia. Viewing will take place from 4-6pm on Thursday, March 03, 2022 at Shivers Funeral Chapel. Please keep the Robinson-Whitley family in your prayers. View Memorial Video