Kim Michelle Whatley

KIM MICHELLE WHATLEY

HEADLAND… Kim Michelle Whatley, a resident of Headland, Alabama, passed away Sunday morning, December 1, 2024, at Ozark Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was 59.

Memorial services will be held 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at Bethlehem Baptist Church with Reverend Jerry Grandstaff officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Wright Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

Kimberly Michelle Whatley was a kind, gentle, and joyful soul who lived a life filled with love, kindness, and resilience. Born on November 9, 1965, Kim was special from the very beginning. Despite being born with special needs, she was a capable and observant individual, with a natural ability to light up any room with her humor, unique perspectives, and infectious smile.

As a young girl, Kim was crowned Little Miss Headland, a recognition that highlighted her charm and grace. She faced life’s challenges with remarkable strength and determination, including surviving third-degree burns as a child. Through it all, Kim maintained an unshakable spirit and a positive outlook on life.

Kim enjoyed spending time outdoors, finding joy in simple pleasures like hunting for seashells at the beach, swimming—something she took to naturally—and just being in nature. She also had a special fondness for thrift shopping and anything sparkly. Whether it was a cup, belt, shirt, or shoes, if it shimmered, it caught Kim’s eye.

In her later years, Kim embraced her independence, living in her own apartment and staying active through a weekly program where she formed meaningful friendships and participated in daily activities. Her final days were filled with connection, joy, and the warmth of community.

This autumn, Kim’s health began to decline after she experienced difficulty walking. On October 9, she was hospitalized and soon diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Though her illness progressed quickly, Kim’s final days were marked by the presence of loved ones who visited to comfort her. She received compassionate, around-the-clock care and passed away peacefully on December 1, 2024.

Kim’s passing was sudden, but her family takes comfort in knowing that she did not suffer greatly. They are deeply grateful for the love and support shown to her during her final weeks.

As we gather to celebrate Kim’s life, let us remember her kind and gentle spirit, her ability to brighten any room, and her love for life’s simple and sparkling moments. Though her time with us was far too short, her legacy of love, laughter, and resilience will forever live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Preceding her in death is her father, Fred Wesley Whatley; her brother, David Fred Whatley; her brother-in-law, Mark McKnight; her uncles, John Arthur Whatley, Odell Walker, Rex Walker, Kenneth Walker, and Harry Walker; her aunts, Diana Herring Walker, Lorraine McLain Walker, and Tracy King Walker.

Leaving to cherish her memories is her mother, Glenda Christine Walker Whatley; her sister, April McKnight of Headland, AL; her nephew, Joshua Mark McKnight of Atlanta, GA; her aunts, Betty Jean Arnold (Wallace) and Carol Bailey (Curley); her uncles, Tommy Walker and Haisten Walker (Teresa); and a host of her cousins.

WRIGHT FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY

Phone 334-6WE-CARE (693-2273)

www.wrightfuneralhomeandcrematory.com

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