Jill Greene Whitaker

Mrs. Jill Whitaker, wife, mother, educator, died July 30, 2021, under hospice care in Cary, NC. She was preceded in death by her father, Ralph B Greene in 1996 and her mother Nellie M Greene in 2009. Jill was 80 years old. Mrs. Whitaker was born Jill Kaye Greene in 1941 in Lafayette, Indiana. She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill after 3 years of study with a degree in Education. Jill met the love of her life Thomas B Whitaker in 1955 while students at Needham Broughton High School in Raleigh, NC. They married in August 1960 and were soon to be celebrating their 61st wedding anniversary. After graduating from UNC, Jill taught in high schools in Middlesex, Clayton, Raleigh, and Apex. She spent most of her teaching career in the Wake County School system at Apex High School teaching English while also being a homemaker and raising three children.

For most of her career she taught English Literature to high school seniors. At Apex High School she not only taught English, she also enjoyed leading students in production of the yearbook, and coached the Apex girl’s and boy’s swim team. In 1991, she led the Apex girls’ team to the State 4A Championship in swimming. This was the first State 4A Championship in any sport for Apex High School. For Jill, this was a very unique accomplishment since she could not swim.

Jill was an avid reader with a voracious appetite for the written word of many genres. It was not uncommon for her always to have a book with her at all times. Jill’s passion for the written word enabled her to instill a love of literature to students.

Jill and Tom centered their life around family activities. They spent much of their time cheering on their 3 children in various sporting activities like year round competitive swimming, soccer, and baseball. Tom and Jill enjoyed attending NC State basketball and football games as well various music concerts. Later in life, Jill traveled extensively with her husband both domestic and internationally. She especially enjoyed cruising the Caribbean.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years (Dr. Thomas B. Whitaker), and three children: Laura (Kacy) Smith (husband Dave), Chris Whitaker (wife Tracy) and Courtney Whitaker: 5 grandchildren, Andrew, Blake (wife Kieva), Devin, Ashleigh and Aiden; and older brother Dr. Jack P. Greene and wife Dr. Amy T. Bushnell of Warwick, Rhode Island.

A private service will be held for the family at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Jill Whitaker to: Transitions Life Care, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.