Sara Marie Whitfield

Hey friends, I have a new address! I have been gathered with my people. No more violence or hate, just the Glory of The Lord. Hallelujah! I passed on December 15, 2024 at my home in Evansville. I pray that everyone that knew me, will find comfort in the fact that I knew the Lord and find peace in the fact that I am in a place of love and tranquility. I was born July 7,1944 to Velma M. (Batteiger) Orrick and Wesley E. Orrick. I was then adopted by C. Coleman Oakley after Mom married a second time. I had 64 years of knowing and loving, George Whitfield and 58 of marriage to him, before my love left this earth. We met at the Vanderburgh County Fair the summer after our freshman year at F. J. Reitz High school. We both graduated high school in 1962. I have been blessed to meet and make memories with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I enjoyed my employment in health care throughout my life as a nurse’s aide and then as a nurse. I had the privilege to work at Welborn Hospital, Deaconess Hospital and Welborn Clinic. I am grateful for all the people who helped me along the way. My husband George encouraged me along with way. He made it possible with his help with our children in their youth and in my ability to further my education and travel with groups from our church. The last 35+ years I worked at Welborn Clinic/Deaconess Clinic. I made many friends while working. Some were patients and others were co-workers. They became my extended family. We spent a lot of time with our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren taking and following them to whatever activity they were participating in. I am so thankful for that time with each of them. I wish it could have more time, when our children were young. I enjoyed watching wildlife, looking at and for wildflowers with George. There was nothing better than a good thunderstorm to relieve stress! I grew up attending 12th Ave General Baptist Church and became a member of the Church. For the past twenty-five plus years, I have attended CFC, most recently via livestream. I am thankful for the trips with my church family. We took several to Warrenten, Missouri for a week of working with Christians. Traveling with the group was wonderful. We also took a trip to Turkey where I had a chance to meet children from many countries. We took another to Uganda with a medical team. Seeing children and their excitement and then true poverty! Visiting prisons in Uganda (men’s and women’s) was such a blessing. I had never experienced anything like this. No fear or anxiety, just a blessing. The LORD blessed me with this. Preceded in death by my loving husband George; my faithful, strong mother, Velma Batteiger Orrick Oakley; biological father, Wesley Edward Orrick and stepfather, Coleman Oakley who provided for my needs as a child and until I left home. I was also preceded by a brother, James Coleman Oakley, grandfather like Theodore “Panny” Schultz and his wife Mary Batteiger Schultz, who raised my mother; grandparents, Isham and Mary Bryant Orrick, George Bernhardt Jacob Batteiger and Sarah Hostettler Batteiger; an aunt, Selma Katherine (Schultz) Yocum, and nephew, Steven Paul Grund. I am survived by a son, Scott Allen (Christina) Whitfield; daughter, Michele Marie Whitfield; grandchildren, Shawn Adam Whitfield, Samantha D. Whitfield, Alexia M. (Caleb) Wallace Johnson and Paris R. Wallace; great grandchildren, Molly Amelia Whitfield and Adalynn B.C. Dersch, Clementine V. J. Johnson; sister, Judy A. (Don) Grund and sisters-in-law, Diana Oakley and Cathy (Tim) Hesse; niece, Teri Jo Oakley and her children Summer Jo Wilder, Travis and Gavin Taylor and Chris Oakley, former sister in law. Others related not by blood, but by love include, Chris and Lindsey Wallace, Randelynn Wallace and Brilliance, Hunter Dersch, Kayla Schmidt, Karsyn and Oakley Jo There will be a gathering to share memories held on Friday, December 20, 2024 at 6:00 PM at Pierre Funeral Home, Rev. Cliff Herring officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 3:00 PM until service time on Friday at the funeral home. If you attend, bring your memories and comfort my family. Laugh and love. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Isaiah 117 House, 8210 Woodbriar Drive, Evansville, IN 47715. Condolences may be made online at www.pierrefuneralhome.com.

Sara Marie Whitfield

July 7, 1944 - December 15, 2024