Sudie Whitley

Sudie Auline Whitley passed from this life on March 20, 2009. She was born on June 12, 1912 in Waxahachie, Texas to William and Josie Tanner Whitley. Sudie was the middle child of 7 sisters and a brother. Early in her life the family moved to Cumby where her father worked as a sharecropper. Sudie left Texas at an early age to pursue her dreams in Hollywood, California and lived most of her life there choosing only to move back to Texas after her retirement as the credit manager for the nation-wide chain of Monrovia Nurseries. Although she never achieved her dreams she managed to live a comfortable life. Of note during her time in California, Sudie worked for Douglas Aircraft building bombers during World War II. She also met and later married the renowned Radio and Television Broadcaster/Owner John Cohan. They were later divorced but remained friendly. Sudie's modest life is most defined, however, by those she leaves behind. Her eldest son, Sam, served the nation in the Army for over 28 years and retired as a Colonel. He continues to contribute to the defense of our nation in his retirement. Her other son, Randy, is a renowned geologist and is bringing in the world's largest oil field in Saudi Arabia. Her three grandchildren also have remarkable lives. Her eldest grandson, Mike, retired from the Army after 31 years of service as a Brigadier General and is now a Vice President for a major defense contractor. Her eldest granddaughter, Karen, is a senior engineer with the State of Louisiana. And the youngest of her grandchildren, Sandra, is a nurse who Sudie chose to help her in the last years of her life. She also has five great grandchildren and a great-great grandson. She is survived by one sister, Dorothy Sims of Birmingham, Alabama.

The family welcomes you to join them in a celebration of this remarkable woman at a graveside ceremony to be performed by the Reverend George Holcombe on May 2, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cumby City Cemetery.