Charlene Naomi Seymour Whittenburg was born on November 27, 1930 to the late George Henry Seymour and Willie Emma Goodwin Seymour of Fayette County, Somerville, TN.  She was the eldest of five children; George, Albert, and Winnie (Aunt B) preceded her in death.  She passed away from this earthly life on Sunday, February 21, 2021 at 6:10 AM at Menorah Park Skilled Nursing Care Residence in Beachwood, Ohio.

Mother Whittenburg moved with her family to Cleveland, Ohio in 1946 when she was fifteen years old.  Since her father had passed away earlier in Tennessee, Mother Whittenburg carried the responsibility of helping her mother to care for her four younger siblings while attending school at John Hay High School in Cleveland.  At one time, her family lived in the house next door to Pentecostal Tabernacle United Holy Church (Cleveland, Ohio) where the parking lot stands today.

On June 25, 1949 Mother Whittenburg married Arthur Thomas and gave birth to three children: Arthur Tyrone, Debra, and Darrell, who grew up singing together as  “The Rising Three” under the guidance of her sister, Winnie Seymour Marshall (Aunt B).  Later, on November 25, 1953, Mother Whittenburg married Daniel Thomas Whittenburg and gave birth to two children: Vernita and Daniel who grew up singing praises to the Lord, as well.

Mother Whittenburg also cared for her grandson, Darrell (Boo) Judah, after accompanying his father, Darrell, to the hospital to take him home soon after his birth.  She was lovingly called, “Ma” by Darrell (Boo) throughout her life.  Mother Whittenburg continued to share her home and love with her granddaughter, Misty Scott, and great grandchildren: Ian, Erin, Zoe, and Zion.

Mother Whittenburg served faithfully for over 70 years at Pentecostal Tabernacle United Holy Church and later at St. Luke’s United Holy Church in various roles as a member of the Gospel Choir and the Senior Choir, as President of the Young Peoples’ League, and as a missionary who preached the gospel in numerous services and revivals at several local churches.  She frequently took the lead in having prayer meetings and shut-ins. Mother Whittenburg also organized food and clothing drives for the needy in the community.

Mother Whittenburg cried out to the Lord in song and dance continuously.  You oftentimes heard her singing a song that she wrote:

Jesus, Jesus loved me so.

He went up on Golgotha’s hill.  He loved me so.

Jesus, Jesus loved me so.

He paid the price that I might live.  He loved me so.

You also might recall hearing her sing one of her favorite songs:

Walk around, walk around.  Walk around in me.

Walk around, walk around.  Walk around in me.

My soul is happy.  My mind is free.

I want the Lord Jesus to walk around in me.

After many years of caring for her parents, her siblings, her children, her grandchildren, great grandchildren, the saints, and others, Mother Whittenburg enrolled in a medical program to receive a Home Health Aide Certificate. Praise the Lord for Mother Whittenburg’s continuous service and labor of love on the battlefield for our Lord.

Mother Whittenburg leaves to cherish her memories one sister, Vertel Ashford of Cleveland, OH; 5 children: Arthur T. Thomas of Cleveland, OH, Debra J. Mines of Atlanta, GA, Darrell E. Thomas (Jarlene) of Phoenix, AR, Vernita D. Whittenburg and Daniel T. Whittenburg of Cleveland, OH; 7 grandchildren: Arnetta Shenese Wilson and Darrell Judah (Barbara) of Cleveland, OH, Hermalena V. Powell (Matthew) of Granger, IN, Misty Scott of Cleveland, OH, Marlo Long (Jarrid) of Palmdale, CA, Clifford H. Mines (Ligelou) of Houston, TX, Ryan Bean of Cleveland, OH and Darrah Gebreab (Alex) of Los Angeles, CA; 14 great grandchildren: Kevin and Chris Bedee, Akeisha and Jesse Wallace, Ian, Zoe, and Zion Scott of Cleveland, OH, Erin Pope of Fairborn, OH, Alaina and Alan Powell of Granger, IN, Mylan Thomas, Jayden and Zairen Long of Palmdale, CA, Alexandrah Gebreab of Los Angeles, CA; 3 great, great grandchildren:  Braylon Mckinnie, Marcel Green, and Nyla Scott of Cleveland, OH; 3 nephews:  Marvin Bishop (Angie), Courtney Ashford, and George Seymour Jr. of Cleveland, OH; 3 nieces: Leovetta and Joyce Daniels of Cleveland, OH and Dennis Moffat of Fairmont, West VA; 3 great nieces: Aretha Fazekas (Larry), Jasmine and Amber Bishop, of Cleveland, OH; 1 great nephew: Damian Wilson of Cleveland, OH; 7 first cousins, Fletcher Seymour, Earnestine Mosby, John Seymour of Somerville, TN; Nancy Jenkins (James), Bobbie Berry, Evelyn Edmond (Leon), and Findel Seymour (Marilyn) of Chicago, IL., and a host of other relatives and friends.

Lovingly Submitted by the Family