James Walter Whitehead Jr.

James Walter Whitehead, Jr. “Jim” passed away peacefully on Tuesday, the 27th of March 2018. Jim was born on the 25th of March 1947, to Celeste Dervaes Whitehead and James Walter Whitehead, Sr. in Tampa, Florida. The family lived in Florida and New York before settling in Virginia, where Jim attended Lexington High School. Jim started college at Sewanne but returned to Lexington to attend Washington & Lee University. While at W&L, Jim was a member of Kappa Sigma and played on the baseball team.

After graduating from W&L in 1968, Jim joined the Navy. He served as a F-4 Phantom II Radar Intercept Officer and logged over 400 landings on the John F. Kennedy CVA-67 aircraft carrier, the record at the time. Jim earned the rank of full Lieutenant before retiring from the Navy and attending Thunderbird School of Global Management. He graduated from Thunderbird with a Masters in International Finance in 1975 and, thereafter, enjoyed a fulfilling career with Southern National Bank in Houston, Texas.

In 1989, Jim suffered a series of strokes and an aneurysm that drastically changed his life. However, Jim maintained his passion for sports, always finding a baseball game to watch on television. Jim also maintained close family relationships, benefitting from the constant company and dedicated care of his beloved parents. Jim delighted in his son and grandchildren, giving his great, wide smile and “thumbs up” upon news of an athletic achievement or funny exploit.

Jim is survived by his son, James Whitehead, James’ wife, Elizabeth, and their two children, Claire and Graham. Jim is also survived by his brother, Paul Whitehead, niece, Carson Saldivar, and her son Dalton. Jim leaves behind many loyal extended family members and friends, whose enduring support helped to keep Jim’s life meaningful and vibrant.

The family is immensely grateful for the outstanding care and compassion provided by the staffs at Stonewall Jackson Hospital of Lexington, Virginia, Westminster Canterbury of Lynchburg, Virginia and Brookdale Galleria of Houston, Texas. The family is particularly appreciative for the love and dedication of Jim’s longtime caregivers Marly Anderson and Phyllis Shockey. Marly and Phyllis went above and beyond the call of duty and treated Jim like family. They worked not just to meet Jim’s needs but to put a smile on his face.

Friends are cordially invited to gather and celebrate Jim’s life from four o’clock in the afternoon until six o’clock in the evening on Saturday, the 31st of March, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

At a later date, the family will gather for a private interment at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

If so desired, in lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to The Reeves Center at Washington & Lee University, 204 W. Washington St., Lexington, Virginia 24450; or to The American Stroke Association, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, Texas 75231.