Carolyn V. Whitaker

Carolyn Virginia Whitaker of Red Boiling Springs passed peacefully in her home on February 9th, 2024. She was born April 26, 1937, in Nashville and spent her formative years in the Inglewood neighborhood. She attended Dan Mills Elementary and Isaac Litton High School where she was a member of the concert band and the famous Litton Marching 100. After graduating in 1955, she continued her education by studying pre-nursing education at Tennessee Polytechnic University and St. Thomas School of Nursing. She earned her BSN from Vanderbilt University and finally she became a member of the first class of MSN of Family Nurse Practitioners at Vanderbilt in 1972. In the interim, she served as Director of Nursing at St. Thomas Hospital. After relocating to Red Boiling Springs, in 1972 she opened the first nurse practitioner run medical clinic to service this rural community that had no ambulance service, no EMTs and most households had no telephone. She then went on to be a charter member of the faculty when the School of Nursing opened at Tennessee Polytechnic University. She was a member of the American Nursing Association and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 by the Tennessee Nursing Association. She retired as an Associate Professor Emeritus at Tennessee Technical University in the early aughts but was active politically and was elected to serve as a County Commissioner in Macon County and served on numerous boards including the Macon County Educational Foundation. Her lovely farm in Red Boiling Springs housed her passions She raised and showed five gaited horses as well as Vizsla hunting dogs. She loved animals and her home was always filled with a variety of cherished pure-bred dogs as well as mixed bred strays. She was a talented organist, bridge player and a champion of women in the medical field and spent her life teaching nursing and increasing medical services for underserved communities across Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Charles S. Whitaker and Margaret Lorene Bergob Whitaker of Nashville. She is survived by her four loving sisters, Kay Whitaker Cole of Corolla, NC, Mary Whitaker Rossman of Murfreesboro, TN, Margarret Whitaker Roberts of Lafayette, TN and Sue Whitaker Sheldon (Ted) of Murfreesboro, TN as well as numerous nieces and nephews, several great nieces and nephews and great, great nieces and nephews. who all adored their Aunt Carolyn. Phillips -Robinson Funeral Home of Nashville is handling the services. The family will hold a visitation on Friday, February 16th from 10am until the time of services at 12 noon. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers: Trey Alsup, Jeff Rossman, Barry Lumpkin, Riley Troutman, Rilen Ruffener, and Aiden Ruffener. Honorary Pallbearers: Maurice Owens, Jeff Williams, and Wayne Williams. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Charles S. Whitaker Scholarship Fund, Disciples Divinity House, Vanderbilt University, 1917 Adelicia Ave, Nashville, TN, 37212.

Carolyn V. Whitaker

April 26, 1937 - February 9, 2024