Shirley B. Whitaker

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Duke University Mary Baldwin University University of North Carolina

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Shirley Whitaker Obituary

Shirley Blue Whitaker

Greensboro

Shirley Blue Whitaker, 86, passed away on Saturday, December 27, 2014.

A graveside service, officiated by Reverend Douglas Kelly, will be held Saturday, January 3, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Raeford Cemetery in Raeford, NC.

Shirley was born in Lumberton, NC on September 19, 1928 to the late Julian and Katherine Blue. She was a Spanish instructor at Duke University, an associate professor of Spanish at Mary Baldwin College and retired as an associate professor from UNC-G. She received her Bachelor's degree and her Master's degree from Duke University. She received her PhD in Romance Languages from UNC Chapel Hill.

Shirley was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Academic Honor Society, as well as the Modern Language Association of America. Additionally, she was a member of Renaissance Society of America, and the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. Shirley authored a monograph, published in the series North Carolina Studies in the Romance Languages and Literatures, as well as articles on several luminaries of Golden Age Spanish drama. In recent years, her scholarly interests focused on court theater in seventeenth-century Spain. Shirley was a distinguished scholar who presented many important papers at conferences throughout the United States.

She was preceded in death by a son, Brian Cameron Whitaker, as well as a brother, Julian H. Blue, Jr.

Survivors include her sister, Katherine (Kacky) Fountain and husband, Richard, of Rocky Mount, NC. Also surviving are grandchildren, Jenna Kathleen Whitaker and Jordan James Whitaker. Additionally, she is survived by her former daughter-in-law, Sally Whitaker Bergquist of Cape Cod, MA. Other survivors include niece, Christy Blue Bierma and husband, David, of Pittsboro, NC, and their son, Stephen; niece, Katherine Fountain Belk and husband, Richard, of Rocky Mount; nephew, Richard T. Fountain, III, and wife, Emily, of Raleigh, NC, and their children, Mary Norris Tilmes (husband, Matt) of Charlotte, NC, Richard IV, Janie, Preyer and Peter Fountain, all of Raleigh, NC, as well as many cousins.

The family requests that memorial contributions be sent to UNC-G Spanish Department, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170.

The Whitaker family is being served by Forbis and Dick North Elm Street Chapel and Crumpler Funeral Home in Raeford, NC.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The News & Observer on Jan. 2, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Shirley Whitaker

6 Entries

Susana Hernandez Araico

December 28, 2022

Shirley was a very generous colleague, always teady to share her research with the rest of us. I still cite her article on opera´s coming to Madrid. She was a fine lady, eloquent and highy accomplished. --Susana Hernández Araico

David Hildner

January 22, 2015

I was always amazed at Shirley's boundless knowledge about Spanish and Italian theater performances in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. She will be remembered fondly as a gracious and generous colleague.

January 21, 2015

Shirley B. Whitaker is one of the finest human beings I have ever known. She was wise, critical when necessary, and always kind. It was an honor to have known her. I shall miss her. A. Robert Lauer (Professor of Spanish at The University of Oklahoma).

Susana Hernández Araico

January 16, 2015

My deepest condolences to all of Shirley's loved ones.
Shirley was such a fine lady, an admirable scholar and a very generous colleague, willing to share with some of us her meticulous research on Florentine archives on Spanish court theater even prior to publication. We shared some memorable conversations at the Chamizal festival. I will always remember her wise remarks, her intelligent laughter and her warm friendship. I give thanks for the privilege of having known such a fine lady and Siglo de Oro scholar. --Susana Hernández Araico

January 16, 2015

My deepest sympathy to Shirley's family, friends, and former colleagues. She will be missed.

Don Larson

Dawn Smith

January 16, 2015

My sincere sympathies to Shirley's family and friends. Shirley was a fine scholar and leaves a distinguished contribution to her field of research. I was privileged to meet her.
Dawn Smith (professor Emerita of Spanish. Trent University, Peterborough, Canada

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