On Wednesday, May 27th 2020, the heart and soul of our family, Arthur Whitmore, III peacefully took his last breath and went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Art, lovingly known to many as Ray, a nickname that was given to him by his father at an early age, or Cag if you went to school with him, left an impression on hundreds if not thousands of people. Ray was a bit of a city boy, born in Community Hospital of Norfolk County on September 6th 1951 to Alphonza Whitmore, Sr. and Dorothy Manley Whitmore. Nobody knew what a force and impact to the world baby Ray would be. Ray was number three of five children and at an early age showed an exceptional athletic ability excelling in all sports, especially football. Young Ray was a part of phenomenal class of 1969 George Washington Carver High School where he fostered life long friendships that he held on to for over 60 years. Ray was also a proud HBCU graduate and he attended Norfolk State University on a full athletic scholarship where he tore up the line playing offensive tackle proudly wearing the number 77 all four years. He also won the title of All American and Offensive Lineman of the Year for the state of Virginia in 1971. While on the yard at Norfolk State, two pivotal things happened in young Art’s life. He found both the love of his life, Evonne Holland and his love for his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Art was initiated into the Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. in May of 1972 where his line was named “The Freedom Riders” and Art was the tail of the line bearing the line name of “Cag” privately meaning strength, tenacity, and leadership – all qualities that he exemplified until his final moments. Cag’s love for Kappa didn’t stop there, in 1981 he went on to become a charter member of the Chesapeake-Virginia Beach Alumni Chapter of the organization. When he moved to Georgia he became an active member of the Alpharetta/Smyrna, Georgia Alumni Chapter and a lifetime member of the fraternity.
Soon after pledging his lifelong commitment to his fraternity, Ray and his love, Evonne Holland, united in holy matrimony at the justice of the peace in Chesapeake, Va on May 26th 1974. Here began the young couple’s bustling careers and the beginning of their young family. Art lovingly supported his wife and travelled with her as she gained her footing as a journalist and educator. During this time Art started his career as both a mental health professional and entrepreneur and in the early 80s had two children, Lathan Mckinley (Kinney) and Lauren-Rae; Von and Art were happily married for almost 40 years until Von passed away in 2011.
The entrepreneurial spirit was in Art’s blood coming from a long line of community business leaders. Ray quickly became known in the Chesapeake community as “the ice cream man.” He opened several successful businesses which allowed him to connect with so many people in and around the tidewater area. Rae-Bo’s Hot Dogs and Ice Cream evolved from trucks, to stands and into a full service restaurant and arcade. He often times would drive his truck into the projects and rough neighborhoods and would wind up counseling the young people that approached his window, even to this day those same people remember stories of the days of Rae-Bo the ice cream man.
It’s difficult to measure Art’s impact on the countless lives that he’s touched. His smile could be seen coming from a mile away and his genuine bear hugs let you know that no matter who you are, you are loved. He was a social advocate having worked in behavioral health as an addiction specialist and mental health therapist for over two decades. He was a youth advocate having owned and operated multiple group homes for displaced and abused girls and boys. He offered housing to homeless, he was a coach, a motivator, a listener and a friend. Art was a family man, dedicating everything he had to his wife, his children and his two youngest “best friends” his grandchildren, Jackson and Langston.
Art is survived by his children Lathan McKinley Whitmore and Lauren Rae Powers (Jamal), Grandchildren Jackson Mckinley Powers (7) and Langston Ray Powers (4); Mother Dorothy Whitmore; Brother Alphonza Whitmore, Jr. (Ocia) and Sisters Angela Whitmore and Stacey Whitmore Horner; Nieces Raven Bell, Jalen Whitmore and Aaliyah Whitmore; Nephews Alphonza Whitmore, III, Joey Whitmore (Jennifer), Joey J. Whitmore, Jr. and Brian Whitmore. He was preceded in death by his wife Evonne H. Whitmore and his sister Brenda Whitmore Smith.
Recognition of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc: surviving members of the “Freedom Riders” Bruce Burwell, Ellsworth Mayfield, Leland Forbes and Willard Adams
In lieu of flowers his children ask that you make donations in honor of Arthur Whitmore to the Arthur Whitmore Scholarship Fund. The scholarship will be a book scholarship made available at all HBCU’s beginning the 2020 academic year. Please go to www.arthurwhitmorescholarship.com to make donations.
Condolences(20)-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Previous Lorenzo C. Broadway
Next Anthony Brownson
Personal Service, Peace of Mind, Pleasant Memories
© Metropolitan Funeral Service
Otha S Cannady says
June 2, 2020 at 9:20 amI was saddened by the passing of your loved one and will keep your family in my prayers. I hope that God keeps you lifted up especially during this time.
JoAn H Chever says
June 2, 2020 at 3:10 pmWe will miss our brother-in-law and uncle to our children. Rest in peace Arthur:
The Holland Family: (Evonne’s sisters and brothers)
JoAn Chever
Leola Martin
Pearline Brooks Tanner
Marilyn Holland
Virginia Pendergrass
Walter (Dub) Holland
James (Jt) & Helen Holland
John (Ja) & Cheryl Holland
Nancy "Tina" and Prince Jernigan - Severna Park, MD says
June 2, 2020 at 6:42 pmIt is with deep sadness that we express our sympathies for our dear friend Art. We have been friends for over 45 years. We will truly miss him and Evonne as well. May Art rest in peace and may light perpetual shine upon him; until that great day when we all shall be reunited in that new heaven and new earth, with incorruptible bodies. We stand on the promises of God. Amen. Alleluia!!!!
To Lauren and Lathan: Art and Evonne left you a wonderful legacy of a loving family; it now upon you to pass this on to the next generation.
Loretta Robinson McGill says
June 3, 2020 at 12:30 amEarth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal. Ms. Dorothy, Phonza, Angie and Stacey, words seem so inadequate, to express my sincere condolence on the passing of Ray. I pray that God will comfort and keep each of you in perfect peace,
and may there always be sweet memories of Ray.
Kanata Reid-Burwell says
June 3, 2020 at 7:32 amI remember Ray; gentle giant. I remember a smile when I greeted him, and when he greeted me. Although, it has been a very long time since I had seen that smile, it is a memory. A treasured memory I will always have.
To his immediate family, I am sorry he left you so early in his life. I offerer my sincere condolences. May God bless and keep you safe and give you peace.
Jock says
June 5, 2020 at 12:00 pmDorothy and James Harvey
To the Whitmore family we are so sorry for your lost. We offer our deepest condolences and sympathy. We are praying for and with you.
Eloise & Casimir says
June 4, 2020 at 10:44 amWe are with you in this moment of loss.
We are mourning with you all, and we will miss Arthur – aka “Papa de Kenny”- a lot.
I wish we could have met him in person, but nevertheless he has left a strong impression on my son and me, and we will forever remember the great man he is.
With all our love,
Éloïse and Casimir
Leland Thomas (Mickey) Forbes says
June 4, 2020 at 11:41 amArthur Whitmore we are gonna miss you. a true brother that was never selfish, and always willing to help someone. pleasant smile that was always there, common sense always to share. you brought me back to life when i was ready to give up. God will always bless you for the deeds that you have done. I’m gonna miss you as will so many others and now God has brought you home i,ll still remember you brother. Gonna miss you love you very much …….
Min. Rosetta Hawkins-Jones and Family says
June 4, 2020 at 12:54 pmMay God heal your sorrows, and His peace comfort you during this time. Praying for you family.
“Blessed are those who mourn; for they shall be comforted.” ( Matthew 5:4, KJV).
Leah Parker says
June 4, 2020 at 4:32 pmMr. Whitmore will be so missed. Thank you for the great advice and always willing to listen. I know you are watching us smiling. Lauren and Kinney my prayers and love are with you and your family always!
Tim & Melba Furlow says
June 4, 2020 at 4:33 pmWe are so thankful that we had the pleasure to meet and love BIG WHIT! His presence was profound and impactful we will always remember him We wish the family love and blessing during this time. Love to Lauren, Kenny, Jamal, Jackson, Langston and all family.
Furlow Family
Jan Adams says
June 4, 2020 at 7:07 pmBig Whit! I met Big Whit over 40 years ago through his Kappa brothers/ family. For they were truly family!! Whit was loving and kind, a friend to all who met him. He knew no strangers. He loved his late wife, Evonne, to life. They were truly a blessing and inspiration to all who crossed their paths. I pray for peace and comfort to his family and loved ones at this time. Keep your mind stayed on Him and He will keep you in perfect peace.
Jenny Adams
owen durham jr says
June 5, 2020 at 5:55 amMy friend, my neighbor,my collegue,my saviour.Cag and I were next door neighbors on ANNA ST in NORFOLK,VA.We talked every morning and he would inspire me daily before we went to work.CAG,S influence will never be forgotten and how he affected other peoples LIVES.May GOD BLESS his children and his entire family .NSU all the way.!!!! WELL DONE my Faithful Servant,LOVE YOU.
Jody Tyler says
June 5, 2020 at 7:01 amArt was a colleague and a friend from his time spent in Ohio. And although we worked together for only a brief time, his impact was great. He was so generous and giving of himself as I watched him transform the lives of those he worked with and he never met a stranger. Art was a force of nature. A smile that could melt the heart of many, he used as a bridge to help others.To his children I offer my sincere condolences. You two and your mother made him so very proud.
Vincent & Paula Shaw says
June 5, 2020 at 12:44 pmTo Kinny, Lauren, Son-in-Law, grandsons, Mother Whitmore, brothers, sisters and other family members,
We were so saddened to hear of the loss of this long-time friend and loved one this morning. We all met during his and Evonne’s Norfolk State College days–when she and I were work study students in the Political Science Department. We all grew closer over the years before children, and when we started families were so blessed when they asked us to be Kinny’s Godparents–what an honor. He was so proud of his children and the fact that they too were entrepreneurs and that they were doing well. He loved his grandbabies and bragged on them, he was never too busy to take time and update us on all the wonderful things going on in his and their lives. Some people just pass through life and others pass through with fervor and leave an indelible impact; with Arthur and also Evonne they were both the latter. God bless you and the entire Whitmore Family on the tremendous loss of this blessing here on earth, you have our condolences and prayers.
~ Vincent & Paula Shaw; VA Beach,VA
Anthony Watkins says
June 5, 2020 at 3:08 pmThis man is one of the greatest FRIENDS a person could ever have, as I type tears flow from my eyes, but the memories keep me smiling. I met him in Kent, Ohio, going to get the food for the church from the food bank. After that we had a bond like no other. I admired him and His family lifestyle. We loved football as I was the Head Coach at Shaker Heights High School and he would come to my games and helped me with my offensive lineman. We did many projects together and he loved talking about where he was from, that I though I was from there. We lost touch for 8 years after his wife died, but, through the grace of god my wife and his daughter are friends on face book and I was able to go visit him last summer in Georgia, and have one(2) of those Raebo Chili dogs again. I’m sure he’s heaven with his Best Gal. continuing smile and being the GREATEST FRIEND TO EVERYONE HE MEETS. Your Friend Beano: Shaker Heights, Ohio
Carolyn Goode says
June 5, 2020 at 5:21 pmI am so sorry for your loss. My love, prayers, and thoughts go out to you, and to everyone who loved Arthur. I miss my cousin and while he cannot return to us, we have the memories and love that he left behind. I will cherish the small things like his texts, phone calls, and short visits, as well as the many memories that made us laugh. I will remember the time when Ray and Evonne visited me in California and how determined he was to get his picture taken with the Hollywood sign, as well as the evening the cousins spent together eating fried fish, watching family videos and laughing about growing up in the Whitmore family. He loved his family and often talked about Kinney, Lauren, Aunt Dorothy, Alphonso, Angela, Stacey, Ocie, his grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was proud of you. Arthur was not only a cousin, he was my friend, and I will miss him. He had a smile that lit up the room when he entered it, a heart filled with love and kindness, and he lived life to its fullest. He had a mischievous side of him, which got me sent to the principal’s office on the first day of school when we were in first grade.
May God continue to bless, keep, protect, and give the family peace and comfort. May He keep you in His loving arms as you mourn in the days ahead. I love you and am here for you. Please let me know if I can do anything for you from a distance.
With Sincere Sympathy,
Cousin Carolyn (aka, Patty)
Linnea Palmer says
June 5, 2020 at 8:39 pmI’m sorry to hear about your brother Arthur Whitmore 111 passing to the family I send you my deepest condolences. Time will come and go but remember all the great times that you all had with each other .
William Butts says
June 6, 2020 at 8:56 amOur condolences to the Whitmore family from the Butts family Whit was a true friend my inspiration he was one of the reasons why I went to NSU
Estherine J. Harding, NSU Retiree says
June 6, 2020 at 9:40 amDeepest sympathy and prayers to the family and friends during this difficult time.
Thinking back, I remember Arthur and Evonne from my Norfolk State College days. May they rest in peace, united forever.
Family, look to Jesus, for he will take care of you.
P 757.628.1000 • F 757.545.9148