Mr. Joe M. Wilhite

Funeral services will be held 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at Collier-Butler Funeral Home for Mr. Joe Max Wilhite, age 73, Glencoe, who passed away, Saturday, July 30, 2011. Rev. Gerald Adams will officiate with burial to follow at Crestwood Cemetery. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Service directing.

Mr. Wilhite was born August 1, 1937 in Cullman, AL to Purvis and Theresa Drake Wilhite and married Gail Leath Wilhite in Talladega, AL on December 1, 1989. He retired from Bruno’s Inc. in 1991. Mr. Wilhite was a successful heart transplant recipient living almost 12 years after transplantation.

He is survived by his wife, Gail Leath Wilhite; daughter, Anita Jo (Phillip) Robinson; son, Kregg Wilhite; daughter, Tammy (Rodney) Guthery; step-sons, Craig (Teresa) Leath, Robbie (Sharona Knight) Leath and Chris(Ann) Leath; grandchildren, Holly (Clay) Borden, Stephen (Amber) Robinson, Ryan, Taylor and Trey Guthery, Summer Smith, Bryan Salster, Deidra Leath and Dillon and Ashley Leath; great grandchildren, Eli, Faith and Joyanna Borden and Tucker Robinson; brother, Jackie Dan (Charlotte) Wilhite; brother-in-law, John L. Padgett; sister-in-law, Norma Patterson; and special brother, Garry Shirley.

Pallbearers will be family and friends.

The family would like to express a special thanks to the doctors and staff at the UAB Heart Transplant Unit, especially Dr. Robert Bourge.

Visitation will be held Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Collier-Butler Funeral Home.