J. Harold Whatley, Jr. died peacefully at River Region Hospital on February 21, 2024. He was 92 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Sr. and Myrtle Whatley of Vicksburg, his infant daughter, Lori Patricia Whatley, his twin brother, Holt Whatley of The Villages, FL and his brother, Roy Whatley of Marietta, Georgia.

Mr. Whatley was a lifelong  resident of Vicksburg. He graduated from Carr Central High School, attended Hinds Community College, served five years in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict and later graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Civil Engineering He enjoyed a career of 42 years with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, retiring in 1993 as The Chair of Levee and Drainage Branch. He was an active member of Woodlawn Baptist Church.

Mr. Whatley was also active in Little League Baseball, Clear Creek Golf Association, was an avid outdoorsman and long time member of Brown's Point Hunting Club (President for 16 years), and a member of the Boone and Crocket Big Game Club of America.

He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Jan (Thornton) Whatley, two children, Scooter Whatley (Annette) of Florence, MS and Angel (Brandon) Smith of Oxford, six grandchildren, Connor Whatley and Austin Whatley of Madison, Stratton Smith, Sharpe Smith and Slay Smith of Oxford, Desiree (Matt) Morrison and four great-grandchildren of Defuniak Springs, FL, one brother, Roy (Margie) Whatley of Houston, TX.

Pallbearers will be Tommy Dykes, George Joy, Danny Koestler, Louis Logue, Brandon Smith, Stratton Smith, Connor Whatley, and Marty Tompkins. Honorary pallbearers will be Scooter Whatley, Richard Studebaker, Randy Thorn and his grandchildren.

The Whatley family would like to express our sincerest appreciation to Sheila Gaskin-Smith, Dr. Barry Blackston, Dr. Paul Pierce IV, Dr. Middleton and the staff of River Region Intensive Care Unit for the love and care shown.

Visitation to be held at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home, 5000 Indiana Avenue  in Vicksburg, Saturday from 12-2 p.m. with the service to follow. Interment will be  at Cedar Hill Cemetery.