Glenda Sue (Lewis) Whitaker

Glenda Sue Lewis Whitaker, 86, of Cushing, passed away on September 11, 2025 in Nacogdoches. Visitation will be Friday, September 19, 2025 from 5-7 at Dickie Allen Funeral Home in Cushing. A second visitation will be held on Saturday, September 20th one hour prior to the funeral service. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 Saturday, September 20th, at the Dickie Allen Funeral Home with Bro. Jed Whitaker of Enon Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Nat Cemetery.

Glenda Whitaker was born November 25, 1938 to A.L. (Bub) Lewis and Maudell McMillan Lewis in Oak Flat, Texas. Her birth marked the beginning of four children where Glenda learned the value of family. Glenda helped her mother with her siblings, and she helped by completing household chores and milking cows on the dairy. Glenda attended school at Cushing ISD, where she made friends and kept in touch with them after graduation in 1956.

Glenda married Jerry Frank Whitaker on September 14, 1956 in her parents' house. She was a supportive wife to Jerry for 69 years. Glenda made lots of brownies for the players that Jerry coached. Jerry and Glenda had two sons, Jay and Jed. She was so proud of her sons. Glenda stayed at home to raise her sons while living in High Island, Texas. She attended all the activities of her husband and sons. She continued to support Jerry, Jay and Jed when they moved to Axtell, Texas in 1972. Glenda worked as an aide in Axtell ISD, and she began to take college classes. In 1978, Jerry and Glenda moved back home to Cushing. Glenda began her long time career at Cushing ISD as an aide teaching elementary P.E. While working, Glenda took classes at Stephen F. Austin State University. One semester she took a class on mythology with her mother, Maudell, and her son, Jed. Glenda received her Bachelor of Education degree from SFA after taking one college class a semester for about 19 years. With her education degree and teacher certification, Glenda became a fifth grade teacher at Cushing ISD. She did not stop with a Bachelor's Degree. She went on to get her Master's Degree in Education. Glenda loved teaching kids. She loved seeing them succeed. Glenda was still teaching fifth grade when she retired from Cushing ISD.

While Glenda's career was taking off, Jerry and Glenda's family grew. She finally got some girls in the family. Her sons married so she became a mother-in-law and her favorite job of Grandmama came along. Glenda loved the role of Grandmama. She did her share of spoiling. Jerry and Glenda kept the roads hot going to support their grandchildren. She loved making the holidays, especially Christmas, fun for her family. Traditions were passed on from her sons to her grandchildren. These traditions still take place with the great-grandchildren. Glenda had four grandchildren and her family grew some more when they all married. The grandchildren and their spouses have given Glenda 12 great-grandchildren. Being a great-grandmama did not slow Glenda down. Jerry and Glenda continued to keep the roads hot going to watch the greats!

Glenda has held several titles in her life-daughter, granddaughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmama, great-grandmama, teacher, friend, and her favorite title was “Old Woman”. Her most important title was Child of God. Glenda was a member of Bethany Baptist Church in Oak Flat. She had a servant's heart. Glenda taught VBS, served in the WMU, helped make and deliver baskets at holidays to shut-ins, and served families when they lost loved ones.

Glenda was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Judy Bailey, her in-laws Willie and Bessie Whitaker, her sister and brother-in-law Anita and George Harkrider, and her brother-in-law Harold Tally.

Glenda is survived by her husband, Jerry Whitaker, son Jay Whitaker (Lisa), son Jed Whitaker (Glenice), sister Diana Blakeny (Troy), brother Joe Lewis (Neva), 4 grandchildren-Kirby Pool (Michael), Zack Whitaker (Danielle), Kelsey Calhoun (Cole), Clay Whitaker (Leslie), 12 great-grandchildren-Eli, Ethan, Elyssa, Elly, and Jax Pool, Deacon, Charli Rae, and Parker Whitaker, Zoey, Presley, and Colt Whitaker, and Cassidy Calhoun along with nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are Michael Pool, Zack Whitaker, Cole Calhoun, Clay Whitaker, Eli Pool, and Ethan Pool. Honorary pallbearers are Scott Driver, Jeff Driver, and Jericho Lewis.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jerry and Glenda Whitaker Tech Prep Scholarship at Angelina College or Cushing ISD Foundation.

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