Norma "Louise" Cannon Whitley

It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Norma Louise "Louise" Cannon Whitley, 88, of Rock Hill, SC, who passed away peacefully from complications of pancreatic cancer on January 7, 2025.

Louise was born on December 6, 1936, in Concord, NC, to Norma Louise (Charles-Craft) and William Coltrane Cannon, Sr.

She was a graduate of Salem Academy, in Winston-Salem, NC, and she attended Queens College in Charlotte, NC.

Louise married the love of her life, her husband of 64 years, James "Jim" R. Whitley Sr., on September 1, 1956, at First Presbyterian Church in Concord, NC. After the wedding Louise and Jim moved to Germany where Jim, a lieutenant in the US Army, was stationed. Together, they would move 27 times during their married life.

Louise and Jim joyfully welcomed their sons, James "Jim" R. Whitley, Jr., William "Bill" Cannon Whitley, and Charles "Charlie" Craft Whitley, Sr. Louise was especially proud that her three sons were Eagle Scouts.

Louise had many interests. She was a skilled needleworker, a talented tole painter, a gifted floral arranger, an avid gardener, a lover of music, and a long time Mah Jong player.

Louise is survived by her sons, Jim (Karen), Bill (LeeAnne), and Charlie (Ali).

Her Grandchildren: Emily (Peter), James (Victoria), Joseph (Phoebe), Will (Abbey), Maggie (Michael), John, Chase, Shaw, Wyatt (Brendan), Wynne, Davis (Lynn), Stella, and Fitch; her Great Grandchildren: Whitley, Jackson, Louisa, and Crewe; and her siblings: Margaret (Barney), Mary Bost (Michael), Winslow, and Bill (Ann).

Louise was preceded in death by her loving husband, Jim; parents, Norma Louise and William Coltrane Cannon, Sr.; sister, Harriet Cannon Crawford, and brother-in-law, Olin "Buddy" Leatherman.

Family members are invited to a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery in Concord on Monday the 13th at 2:00 PM.

In her memory, we ask that In lieu of flowers, donations can generously be made to the Acts Legacy Foundation at 420 Delaware Drive, PO Box 2222, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please designate that the gift is for the Park Pointe Village Samaritan Fund in memory of Louise Whitley.