757.628.1000

Camilla Wheelock


Sunrise: January 9, 1936

Sunset: January 28, 2019
Camilla Harper Wheelock departed this life Monday, January 29, 2019. She was born January 9,1936, the last of seven children to Arthur Harper and Tola Brinkley Harper in Norfolk, Virginia. She grew up in St. John’s AME Church.
Camilla, who was fondly called “Dimples” by her parents and siblings, and “Aunt Boo Boo” by her nieces and nephews, attended the public schools of Norfolk and graduated from Booker T. Washington high School in the class of 1953. Continuing her education beyond high school, she went on to graduate from Virginia State College (now University). Following graduation from college, she taught briefly in Newport News, and then she became a teacher and a helping teacher for Norfolk Public Schools, where she positively influenced and enhanced the lives of countless Norfolk students for decades, retiring in 1994.
Camilla was married to the absolute love of her life and high school sweetheart, Leon Wheelock, whom she spoke lovingly of to the very end, although she was ravaged by Alzheimer’s disease.
Camilla was a lovely, brilliant, articulate, and grand lady who was greatly admired and respected by all who knew her. She was an exemplary teacher, a true scholar, a stickler for proper usage of the English language, and a lover of classical music. She is already missed deeply, however, her radiant personhood, charm, and warmth will burn brightly in the hearts of many.
In addition to her parents, Camilla is predeceased by her brothers; Arthur J. Harper, Nathaniel W. Harper, and sisters; Odelia Harrison, Mellasenah Young, Pearl Harper, and Told Epperson.
Left to remember and cherish her life are nieces; Mellasenah Morris (Stephen Wright/Maryland), Marquerite Scott (North Carolina), Faye Harrison-Conwill (William/Illinois), Deborah Rynes (Stanley/Michigan) Hattie Schenk (Jeffrey/California), Linda Butler (Florida), Carol Harper (South Carolina), Cindy Harper (California), and nephew Arthur Harper III (Arizona); special friends, Joyce Myers and Felicia Fontenot.
Wake Service Saturday, February 2, 2019 5:30pm-7:00pm Metropolitan Funeral Service Berkley Chapel Interment Albert G. Horton Veteran Cemetery 5310 Milners Road Suffolk, VA 23434

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Condolences(4)

  1. reply
    DENNY GORDON says

    REST IN PEACE WITH YOUR ANCESTORS. MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL SINCERE CONDOLENCE TO YOUR LOVE ONES

  2. reply
    Jennifer Soster says

    Deepest sympathies for this remarkable family. Sending prayers for peace and comfort from Greencastle, Indiana

  3. reply
    Linda Butner (niece) says

    Much gratitude to all who made this Service special.
    Thank you, Cousin Chickie.
    Thank you for being an Angel, dear Joyce.
    Missing Aunt Boo Boo,
    Linda Harper Butner

  4. reply
    Faye Harrison (Conwill) says

    I’m so glad that modern-day technology makes live-streaming possible. I would have liked to be physically at the memorial service, but that wasn’t possible. I appreciate that Chickie was there to tell a few stories of our aunt–her sense of humor, her creativity. I remember when she would draw cartoons that told stories and years later when she painted amazing murals on walls in her house. I appreciate hearing the testimonials from her former students, colleagues, and friends, who gave me a clearer sense of what my aunt was like across a range of settings. Those stories confirm what I already knew about what an amazing person she was. I was glad to hear how much of a “classy” person she was and how she represented “the gospel in action.”
    How blessed we all are to have had her in our lives.

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