Mary Ann Sam Whisner

Mary Ann "Sam" Whisner March 12, 1936 - December 3, 2013 Mary Ann "Sam" Whisner passed away on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013. She grew up in Randolph County as a child and as a teenager in Bessemer. Valedictorian at Bessemer High School, she was awarded a scholarship to Birmingham Southern College, where she met her husband Richard Whisner. They had been married for 57 years. She realized her love for world travel during her husband's Air Force career, living in South America and Europe. Always active, Sam was elected to the Board of Directors of the Maxwell-Gunter Credit Union and the Chilton County Bank, was elected President of the German-American Women's Club while living in Stuttgart, and in the former Yugoslavia she served her country as Community Liaison Officer in the U.S. Embassy. She completed her bachelor's degree at Auburn University at Montgomery. After retiring to Verbena, Sam devoted her energy to various civic activities including the Cotton Patch Quilters, Chilton County Arts Council, Chilton County Master Gardeners, Senior Connection, supported various functions in the Chilton County Library and ran her own antiques and curiosities shop, Bits and Bobs. Sam and her husband continued to travel abroad in retirement, visiting Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, South America, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the Baltic with their friends. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clanton. On the passing of her parents, G. L. (in 1998) and Ollie Braden (in 2002), she managed Jemison Milling and her father's other properties. Sam is survived by her husband Col. Richard Lynn Whisner USAF (Ret.), her sons Richard (Dianne) of Howell Michigan, Gil (Andrea) of Scottsdale Arizona, her brother Royce (Jolene) Braden of Freeburg Illinois and sisters Joyce (Dean) Hill of Calera Oklahoma and Pat (Wayne) Hamilton of Clanton, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Memorial Service was held Monday, December 9, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at Clanton First United Methodist Church with Rev. Rob West officiating. Interment will follow in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Habitat for Humanity, Shelby-Chilton County Salvation Army, and the Chilton County Humane Society. Martin Funeral Home directing. You may leave online condolences for the family on the guest registry at our website. www.martinfuneralhomeinc.com