Donald Lee Whittington

Obituary Donald Lee Whittington was born September 13, 1933 in Crisfield, Maryland. Donald was the son of the late Eldridge and Angenetta Whittington and the eldest of three children. Donald went to school in his early years in Marion Station, Maryland. He attended junior and high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from John Bartram High School in 1951. Upon graduation at the age of 18, he started his baseball career by going to Winston Salem, North Carolina. After being accepted, he went on to play for the Negro American League, which took him to 48 states and 13 provinces in Canada. He played 3rd base and short stop for the Philadelphia Stars 1952, East–West Game 1952, Memphis Red Sox 1953-1954, Yankee Stadium in Brooklyn, New York, Shibe Park, later called Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and many more stadiums that accepted Black players. Oscar Charleston was his manager. He endured the prejudices of the deep South of that era but by now, Donald had started studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses and sharing his Bible-based beliefs with others. When he did well in a game, the headlines would read, “The Preacher Did It Again.” He ended his baseball career in 1954 with the Memphis Red Sox, leading with a 357 batting average. The following year he was to go to the Detroit Tigers Pro. Donald was baptized as one of Jehovah's’ Witnesses on February 6, 1954. He had a deep love and zeal for Jehovah God. He was privileged to serve in the Christian Congregation as a Presiding Overseer and Coordinator in the Body of Elders. He served in the Woodland and Cobbs Creek congregations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the Westover congregation in Westover, Maryland. Donald married his lovely wife, the love of his life, Rhoda Dolores Howard on June 9, 1956. They enjoyed 62 years together. From this union they were blessed with two daughters, the late Cheryl Anita and Angela Victoria. Shortly after his marriage, he faced a test of his faith. He took his stand of Neutrality as a conscientious objector and served 9 months out of his 3 year sentence in Danbury, Connecticut prison. Because of the good conduct of Jehovah’s Witnesses, they were allowed to conduct their meetings. He would often write home for the family and friends to remain strong for Jehovah’s kingdom. He worked at Merck and Company Pharmaceutical as a technician. We remember Donald for singing with his guitar, his jokes, riddles, laughter and saying thanks for being my brother, sister, friend and family. Donald is survived by: his wife Rhoda; daughter Angela; brother Bernard Whittington; sister Brenda Walker; eight grandchildren, David, Jared, Joshua, Jeffrey, Marcus, Jolan, Nikkia and Christopher; great grandchildren; five sisters-in-law, Eleanor Green, Esther McNeely, Yvonne Neal, Barbara Whittington and Olive Howard; three brothers-in-law, Joseph “Joe” Howard, Kenneth “Kenney” Howard and Otis Walker and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, cousins and friends. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald Lee Whittington, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Donald Lee Whittington

September 13, 1933 - April 22, 2018