Martha Sylvia Herndon Whitefield

Martha Sylvia Herndon Whitefield

Nashville - Sylvia Whitefield was born in Birmingham, Alabama to parents Dr. Charles and

Hildreth Herndon. She was an only child and was especially close to her parents all her life. Sylvia lived in Carmel, California as a young child, and her family returned to Alabama in 1945. She grew up in Montgomery and left home to attend college at David Lipscomb in Nashville. Sylvia worked for the Air Force in Civil Service for a year or two and then worked for Delta Airlines as a Flight Attendant. Because working for the airline allowed her time and benefits of travel, she loved to travel with her close friends, even on round the world trips. While based in Memphis, Tennessee, she met Conrad Whitefield who was soon to graduate from dental college. Because Conrad was obligated for military service, she chose to become a Navy wife, and they married in October, 1965. They were based in San Diego, California for a short time before Conrad was shipped overseas with the Marines. As Conrad finished his third year of Navy service, Sylvia worked again in Civil Service for the Navy.

In 1968, Sylvia and Conrad chose Nashville for their home and have lived here for almost 50 years. After Mark and Clinton joined the family, Sylvia decided to return to school and became interested in Special Education. She obtained her Certificate for Teaching, obtained a Masters Degree in Speech Pathology and was a Speech Therapist in-Metro Schools for many years until she retired from teaching. After leaving active teaching, Sylvia worked for several years as the office manager in the Whitefield Dental Clinic in Hermitage. As Sylvia and Conrad approached retirement age, they had time to enjoy numerous vacation trips with close friends and only slowed down as health issues made them stay close to home. Those trips were some of her favorite memories. Sylvia made at least two medical mission trips to Guatamala and helped Conrad and Dr. John Peden deliver a customized Ford pickup from Nashville, Tennessee driving through Mexico to Guatemala City, Guatemala. The truck was used for Medical Missions in the Northern jungle area of the Peten area for many years.

Sylvia is survived by her husband, Conrad Whitefield and their two children, Clinton Thomas Whitefield of Hermitage, Tennessee and Mark Herndon Whitefield and his wife Jenni of Nashville. She also leaves three grandchildren, Bailey, Bennett and Ryan Grace Whitefield whom she adored.

Sylvia was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ and was baptized in her early teens. After moving to Donelson in 1968, she and Conrad attended Donelson Church of Christ for over 51 years.

Visitation for Sylvia will be held at Donelson Church of Christ on Friday, Aug. 16 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Brother Terry Booker and Brother Bob Hendren will conduct the memorial services at 10:30 a.m. and the burial will follow in Hermitage Memorial Gardens in Hermitage, Tennessee.

Active Pallbears are Gary Chowning, Steve Adams, Dr. Thomas Friddell, Richard Murphy, Dr. Terry Sawyer, Dr. Roy Ezell and Terry Booker. Honorary pallbearers are Betty Wassenberg (deceased) , Vera Friddell, Karen Murphy, Dr Constance Fulmer, Martha Davis, Betty Cannon and JoAnn Mehaffey.

Because of family interest in medical missions, they request any memorials be sent to Donelson Church of Christ Missions or Health Talents Int., P.O. Box 8303, Searcy AR.72145 or to your choice of church missions.