Submitted by: Dan Rich

Catherine I. Whitfield

Jan. 29, 1922 - Dec. 18, 2007

South Bend Tribune 12/20/2007

SOUTH BEND - Catherine I. Whitfield, 85, of South Bend, passed away at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, in Miller's Merry Manor, Wakarusa, IN, and entered into glory with her Lord and Savior. She was born January 29, 1922, in Greenwich, Virginia, to James Edward and Minnie Mae (Nalls) Johnson, and had lived in South Bend since the mid-1940s.

On Nov. 23, 1946, in South Bend, as Catherine Johnson, she was united in marriage to Raymond G. Whitfield. She is survived by her loving husband, Raymond of 61 years. Also surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Joan and Les Heiser of South Bend; her son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Laura Whitfield of Mattawan, MI; five grandchildren, Emily (Michael) McClain of West Virginia, Jared Heiser and Jessica (Nathan) Aurand, both of South Bend, Caleb and Clay Whitfield, both of Mattawan, MI; and three great-grandchildren. Mrs. Whitfield was preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers, Thelma and Gladys Johnson, Elmer and Blair Johnson. She retired from the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company following more than 15 years of employment. She was a longtime member of Community Baptist Church in South Bend.

Services for Mrs. Whitfield will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, 2007, in Community Baptist Church, 5715 Miami Street, South Bend. Dr. Bud Steadman will officiate. Graveside services and burial will follow at Southlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. today in the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 South Michigan Street, South Bend, and one hour prior to services Friday in the church. Contributions in memory of Catherine I. Whitfield may be made to Community Baptist Church.