Mrs. Lillian E. "Gramma" Whisnante, 96, of Mansfield, passed away Jan. 3, at Newton Medical Center. She was born in 1916 in Newborn, daughter of the late Ernest Howard and Clara Mae Hawkins Elliott. Mrs. Whisnante was the oldest member of the Pine Grove Women's Club becoming a member in 1935 attending meetings with her mother and other ladies in the community. A longtime member of Brownwood Baptist Church, she attended services at Pine Grove Presbyterian, Centennial Baptist Church and Shoal Creek Primitive Baptist Church over the years and would visit other churches throughout the area depending on the time of year and the events that were being held. Mrs. Whisnante was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years Mr. Lewis Whisnante and her son and daughter-in-law Reuben and Susan Whisnante.

She is survived by her daughter Vickie Ozburn, her son Alvin Whisnante, both of Mansfield; grandchildren Cindy Ellison, Amanda and Keith Crowe, Kye and Chris Haymore, Andy and Michelle Ozburn, Randy Ozburn and Kasey and Keeli Whisnante; 16 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mrs. Whisnante will be held at 2 p.m. today, Jan. 6, at the chapel of J.C. Harwell and Son Funeral Home with the Rev. Wilburn Hill officiating. Interment will follow at Shoal Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers those desiring may make donations to the Shoal Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery c/o Charlotte Ragan 160 W. Atlanta Hwy, Rutledge, GA 30663 or your favorite charity.