Mrs. Isabell Lawrence Whitaker, a resident of Washington, quietly slipped away from this life on Sunday, December 30, 2012. She was born June 21, 1920, and was the last survivor of 10 siblings of the late Matthew and Mattie Oden Lawrence.
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 5, 2013, at Temple of Jesus Christ, 906 W. Eighth St., Washington, officiated by Pastor Horace Griffin Jr. Burial will be in  Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Isabell attended schools in Bath, NC. Later she married the late Monroe Whitaker; she gave birth to nine children from that union, seven girls and two boys. She was employed at Beaufort County Hospital for a number of years until sickness forced her to retire. She was a member of New Birth Church of Christ, where she loved being an usher and mother of the church. She was a people person, gentle and friendly, with a radiant smile of love that enabled her to be a friend to all.
She leaves to cherish her memory, four daughters: Betty Tucker of Greenville, NC (Charles Tucker deceased), Bernice Roberson of New York, NY (Tommy Roberson deceased), Carolyn Tyre of Durham, NC, Becky Cobb of Greenville, NC (Arthur Cobb Jr.); and one son, Kenneth Whitaker of New York, NY. She also had three daughters who preceded her in death, Linda Whitaker, Evon Whitaker and Gloria Whitaker, and a son James Monroe Whitaker. Her legacy will be carried on through a host of 37 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren, 13 great-great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A special thank you is extended to her caregivers of several years, Jackie Roberson, Barbara Keys and Marcia Dawson.
Leon Randolph Funeral Home, 208 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Washington, is serving the Whitaker family.