Donald Colley Whaley

February 20, 1930 - October 19, 2023

Mr. Donald Colley Whaley, age 93 went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on October 19, 2023 at his home in Statesboro. He was surrounded by the warmth of his loving wife, Janice Powell Whaley and his family who loved and cared for him during his illness. Don was a faithful member of First Baptist Church, Statesboro. He taught Sunday school for many years and served as a deacon for some of those years.

Don was born in Savannah, Georgia in 1930. He was the sixth child born to George William Whaley, Sr. and Sally May Colley Whaley. Six months after he was born the family moved to Bulloch County and in 1938 moved to a farm six miles south of Statesboro. Don attended Marvin Pittman Laboratory School and graduated in 1947. According to the May 26, 1947 edition of "The Little George-Anne" school newspaper, "Don Whaley is one of the kindest people in the world. He never hurts the feelings of anyone and tries to mend hurts caused by others". After graduation, he moved to Oregon to work for the West Fir Lumber Company, where he spent a year working as a member of the company's survey crew.

At the time of Don's return to Statesboro, the Korean War was beginning. He preferred to enlist in the U.S. Navy instead of being drafted into the army. He spent the next four years aboard the USS Robert A. Owens which was an Anti-Submarine Rocket System Destroyer. As a Machinist Mate 2nd class, he was honorably discharged on January 12, 1953. That summer Don enrolled in classes at Georgia Teacher's College in Statesboro and by 1956 he had earned a Bachelor's Degree and a Master’s Degree in Industrial Education. His first teaching assignment was in Brunswick, Georgia at Glynn Academy. After 10 years of teaching entry level Industrial Arts and serving as advisor to the student council, Don was offered a position at Georgia Southern College in the School of Technology.

Twenty-three years later, in 1989 Don retired from Georgia Southern College. But he wasn't ready to sit down! He started a private consulting firm called The Southern Association Consulting Firm in which he was able to work with local industries in Georgia and South Carolina as a management consultant. He joined the Statesboro Kiwanis Club and for more than 30 years’ work with the other members toward making the Statesboro community better for all the children that lived in Bulloch County. In 1995 he was awarded Kiwanian of the Year and during the years 1999 and 2000, he was the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair Chairman. The 2010 Fair Book was dedicated to Don and he was dubbed the #1 Pancake Flipper.

For two decades he was responsible for running and making sure the pancake house at the fair was successful and popular with the fair patrons. In 2022, the Kiwanis Club members decided to dedicate the pancake house to Don (along with Marion Brantley) because of his unselfish service and tireless efforts to improve the Kiwanis-Ogeechee fair and the Kiwanis Club of Statesboro.

Don loved being outside and one of his greatest joys was working on the land that his family moved to in 1938. He built a home on that land and it became a place for his and Jan's children to enjoy coming home to. It is a place to bring their children and even their grandchildren. He loved planting his own vegetables, especially Silver Queen corn. He loved deer hunting even if he only watched the deer eating from his feeder. He loved his tractor. And he loved his family.
Don is preceded in death by his parents; his son, Kenneth Alan Whaley; his sisters, Katherine Whaley Bird, Hilda Whaley Wilson, Eleanor Whaley Still and Sue Ann Whaley Brannon; his brothers, George Whaley, Jr., Frank Earl Whaley.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Janice Powell Whaley; his daughters, Donna Whaley Nesmith (Craig) of Cumming, Georgia and Karen Whaley Ragan (Larry) of Marietta, Georgia; his daughter-in-law, Gayla Whaley Bennett (John) of Gainesville, Georgia; his grandchildren, Steven Nesmith (Laura), Drew Whaley (Olivia), Grant Whaley (Catelyn), Mallory Nesmith, Luke Ragan, Cameron Ragan, and Jacob Whaley; great-grandchildren, Quentin Nesmith and Audrey Whaley; and a brother, Johnny Whaley (Brenda) of Statesboro.

The family would like to give special heartfelt thanks to the whole staff at Gentiva Hospice for their wonderful care and service to Don. To Lynn Carver, Patricia Rushing, Lydia Daniels and Hilda Bennett who we think of as family now, your care and support will be remember forever!

The family will receive visitors on Monday, October 23rd from 10:00am until 11:30am in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church Statesboro. The funeral service will follow at 11:30am with Dr. John Waters officiating, assisted by Drew Whaley.

Interment will follow at Eastside Cemetery with military honors.

Pallbearers will be Luke Ragan, Jacob Whaley, Grant Whaley, Steven Nesmith, Drew Whaley, TJ Newman, Mallory Nesmith, and Cameron Ragan.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Statesboro Kiwanis Club.

Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com

Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro is in charge of arrangements.

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