Minnie Mae (Askew) Whitehead

Minnie Mae Askew Whitehead, age 93, of Penfield, GA, passed away Sunday, June 30, 2019 at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital in Athens, GA.  Born and raised in Penfield, she was the daughter of the late George Edgar Askew and Lillie Adams Askew.  She attended school in Penfield for ten years and graduated from Greensboro High School.  After high school she attended Atlanta Business School, a women’s trade college.  On September 2, 1950, Minnie married Lee Whitehead, whom she met at the bedspread factory in Greensboro.  After she married, she worked at the school in Penfield as a teacher or teacher’s aide when needed and also assisted with the voting in Penfield.  Minnie was a member of Penfield Baptist Church.  Being a homemaker and helping her family made her the happiest.

Those who knew her, called her many names: "Minnie," "Miss Minnie," "Minnie Mae," and "Toots" (after the beloved comic strip 'Toots and Casper' from the early 1900’s). She was also referred to as "Granny" by friends of the family and her well-beloved nurses and doctors. For many years, she opened her home on Sundays to anyone who would come for dinner, and some of the best times were had on her screened porch and under the old oak tree in her front yard.

Minnie was preceded in death by: Lee Mercer Whitehead (husband), Lillie Mae Aurora Adams Askew (mother), George Edgar "Ed" Askew (father), Marie Askew Murray (sister), William Clyde Askew (brother), Henry Murray (nephew), and Duck Murray (nephew).  She is survived by: children: Carol Whitehead Harris (Billy Wagner) and Gail Whitehead Bedsole; grandchildren: Carolyn Wood Cates, Chris Hatton Garcia (David), Stuart Harris (Heather), Alan Bedsole, and Dylan Webb; great-grandchildren: Tyler Harris, Ashlyn Harris, Rudy Harris, Corey Bedsole, Daniel Garcia, and Gavin Harris; nieces and nephews and their families: Naomi Murray Jones, Morris Murray (Jeanette), Hilda Murray Burt (Jimmy), Elsie Murray Harwell (Robert), and the families of Henry and Duck Murray; her best friend: Darlene Price (Harvey); her beloved stuffed and feathered friends: Bubba the Abominable Snowman, Pwatta the Platypus, Cluck-Cluck Chicken, and Bessie the Cow; her nurses, doctors, pastors, church members, neighbors, and other relatives and dear friends.

Funeral Services will be held at Penfield Baptist Church, 1061 Mercer Circle, Penfield, GA on Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Bryant Miller officiating.  Interment will follow in the Penfield Cemetery immediately following the service.  Serving as pallbearers are Mark Burt, Jeff Burt, Ronald Swann, Michael White, Frankie Whitehead, Mark Higdon, and David Garcia.  Honorary pallbearers will be Ronnie Wood, Steve Harwell, Bob Harwell, Hunter Falls, Tracy Murray, Joe Bashore, Jerry Hatton, Dennis Murray, and Gerald Silvey.  The family will receive friends Tuesday morning, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the church.  The family requests that any memorials be made to Penfield Baptist Church.  McCommons Funeral Home, 109 W. Broad St., Greensboro, GA, (706) 453-2626, is in charge of arrangements.  Visit us at www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register.

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