The family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin shortly after she was born and then moved again to San Francisco, California where she grew up. She attended Lincoln High School and graduated in 1969. She married her high school sweetheart, Donald Freeland, on October 10, 1976. After their divorce, Gena never remarried. She worked as an IT Analyst for Change Health from October 2013 until her retirement. In her spare time, she enjoyed cooking, baking cakes and pies, and listening to jazz.
More than anything, Gena loved to travel the world. She took many trips to Italy and Spain enjoying the rich cultures. So much so, that she lived in Italy for 4 years. She also liked to visit the Smithsonian. A thoughtful and generous person, she provided her sisters, nieces, and nephews opportunities to travel with her. This allowed them to see a part of the world that they ordinarily wouldn’t have been able to and it was so important to Gena to share that experience with them. She enjoyed the finer things in life and lived it to the fullest. She will be so incredibly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Mamie Thorbourne and Robert Edward Whyte; and step-father, Everett Maurice Dawson.
Left to cherish her memory are her sisters, Rena Whyte and Dena (Arthur) Roberson; step-sisters, Renee Haney and Evette Stephens; sister of the heart, Tina Shoals; grandson of the heart, Cole A. Lilley; nieces and nephews, David Johnson, Justin Johnson, Kimani Harper, and Rashida Hatcher; and a host of other loved ones, family, and dear friends.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 11:00 am in the Rosehaven Chapel for a Celebration of Life service. Those who are unable to attend will be able to view the service via livestream here: https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/72782
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitleygarner.com for the family of Gena.
Services have been entrusted to the care of Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven Funeral Home, 8640 Rose Avenue, Douglasville, Georgia 30134
