Robert Hodges Whitaker

Robert Hodges Whitaker, 95, of Albany, GA., died Friday, March 6, 2026 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at Mathews Funeral Home. Rev. William Collins will officiate. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

A native of Hartwell, Georgia, he was born October 13, 1930, to the late Tally Whitaker and Burksie Ridgway Whitaker. He attended Americus High School and Georgia Southwestern College. He had resided in Albany, Georgia since 1968 where he was District Plant Manager with Southern Bell. A veteran of the United States Air Force where he served in the Korean War with the title of Senior Airborne Radio Operator. He served three years in Germany.

Mr. Whitaker was a past member of the Civitan International, where he served as president of the Americus, Waycross, and Albany Clubs, also serving as the district Lieutenant Governor. He was a member of the Sumter County Red Cross, Dougherty Heart Association, and the Telephone Pioneers. He was a Mason and Shriner, and past member of Elks. He was an ardent Georgia Bulldog and Atlanta Braves fan.

In earlier years, he was known as the fix-it man and was proud of all the tomatoes and other vegetables he grew and provided to friends and family. He enjoyed many happy hours fishing at his lake home on Lake Blackshear.

A member of the Porterfield Methodist Church, he had served on the Board of Stewards, Administrative Board, past officer of the Alpha Sunday School Class. He also worked on all the church-built Habitat houses and was a volunteer of Meal on Wheels.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Lawana Johnson Whitaker, brothers, Joe, Don, & Dan Whitaker, and daughter, Tina Whitaker Hanners.

Survivors include brother Douglas Whitaker of Griffin, Ga and sister Elsie Schell of Americus, GA; son Rusty Whitaker (Annell) of Albany, GA and daughter, Kathy Whitaker Wise of Guntersville, AL; Grandchildren, Mark Bates (Ashley), Alex Hanners, Jackie Hanners Soeder (Stephen), and Datelyn Whitaker Mize (Hunter); three great-grandchildren, Ryleigh, Lilly, and Callie Bates and a special friend, Marilyn Mclendon.

Memorial contributions can be made to Porterfield Methodist Church, 2200 Dawson Rd. Albany, Georgia 31707.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral