O’Byrne Jones Whitley died April 24, 2012. O’Byrne was born to Mabel Estelle Byrne Jones and H. Pete Jones on June 10, 1915. She was 96 years old.
O’Byrne graduated in 1933 from Baldwin County High School and went to Massey Business College in Montgomery. She married William Haywood (Willie) Whitley in 1940. The family lived in Natchez, Miss., for many years, before moving back to Bay Minette, where O’Byrne was the assistant administrator/treasurer for the Baldwin County Commissioners before retiring
She raised three children, Carolyn O’Byrne Whitley (Chuck) Norman, Dorothy Dianne Whitley (Butch) McKenzie, and William Haywood Whitley,Jr. She has seven grandchildren, Tiffany (Mark) Chapman, Brandy (John) McAnnally, Whitley Norman, Mandy McKenzie (Chris) Smith, Lance McKenzie, Emily Whitley (Morgan) Nash, and Meredith Whitley (Brandon) Brown; and seven great-grandchildren, Will and Lesley Chapman; Jack, Anna, and Tate McAnnally; Maddi Claire Hinson and Sheppard Brown.
O’Byrne was preceded in death by her husband and two brothers, Harold Jones and Bob Jones, both of Bay Minette. She is survived by two brothers, Jack Jones, Bay Minette, and Bill (Betty) Jones, Tifton, Ga.; one sister-in-law, Jane Jones, Spanish Fort; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A graveside service was Friday, April 27, at Bay Minette Cemetery with the Rev. Jeff Spicer officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Bay Minette First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 338, Bay Minette, AL 36507. Pallbearers were Lance McKenzie, Carl Jones, Jack Jones, Jr., Pete Jones, Bobby Jones and Bill Jones Jr.
Funeral arrangements by Norris Funeral Home, Bay Minette.
