Elizabeth (Liz) Ann Olson Whatley, age 84, passed away peacefully on July 3rd 2024 in Bluffton SC surrounded by her daughters.
Liz was born in Minneapolis MN and after graduating high school moved to Washington DC with her family, where she studied and became a dental assistant. This is where she met Bill Whatley on a blind date and subsequently married the love of her life. They resided on the Eastern Shore of Maryland having three daughters before moving to Clemson and Walhalla SC where they had their forth daughter and spent many weekends enjoying the natural beauty of the mountains. Liz spent her early years as a stay at home mother and later worked as a substitute teacher with a brief stint with the Jantzen swimwear factory. The family then moved to Savannah GA where Liz embraced the coastal life once again and became the manager of Gaston’s Hallmark and Camera store.
She honed her photography skills there and enjoyed working with local artist’s wares. In 1979 the family moved to Allendale, SC into her in-law’s family home. Liz worked for the Allendale County Office on Aging where she taught ceramics and then for the University of SC, Salkehatchie in the Admissions Department. She loved working with the young students there. After Bill retired from teaching the two moved to Bluffton SC for a short time before deciding to become full time RVrs. They had many adventures as they travelled the countryside, afterwards making Statesboro GA their final home. Liz was a compassionate, creative, fun loving, caring and kind soul.
She enjoyed sewing, gardening, painting, crafting, photography, shopping, yoga and swimming along with handbells and other church functions however there was nothing she loved more than time spent with her grandchildren and family and friends preparing delicious food and baking the best pies, strudels and desserts. Her parents were both bakers who met each other in a bakery.
Liz is survived by her 3 daughters, Terry (Hunter) Peacock of Bluffton SC, Gwen (Pat) Kinard of Beaufort SC, Pamela Puglisi & (Gustavo Molina) of Statesboro GA; 5 grandchildren: David (Christen) Kinard of VA, Caroline (Al) Roberts of Anderson SC, William Whatley of London ENG, Nicolas Puglisi and John Puglisi of Atlanta GA and great grandson Brewer Roberts of Anderson SC.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband William Wilson Whatley; infant daughter Ann Christine Whatley; parents Peter Howard Olson and Caroline Zelenka Olson and brother Thomas P. Olson.
A memorial service for Ms. Whatley will be held Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 11:00 am at Trinity Episcopal Church with Rev. Charles Todd officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://actalz.org>donate or Al-Anon at https://al-anon.org>contributions.
Friends may sign the online register at www.joineranderson.com.
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro is in charge of arrangements.
