Rev. W. L. Whelchel

Rev. W. L. Whelchel 90 of Gainesville passed away on Monday July 6^th.    

Walter Lee (W.L) Whelchel was born on April 13, 1930 in Lumpkin County, Georgia. He was the youngest of eight children born to the late Walter and Earmon Jackson Whelchel. W.L. Whelchel grew up under the guidance of his parents and older brothers and sisters in the Hickory Grove Community, located in Lumpkin County. Due to the fact that there were no public schools for the rural African-American communities, young Whelchel’s elementary years were spent at the Hickory Grove Church School. He continued his high school years at the Beulah Rucker Industrial High School when his family moved near Gainesville in 1937.  

Professionally, W.L. worked for the First National Bank of Gainesville for 32 years. He was the first African American Gospel Radio Phenomenon within the Northeast Georgia area. He worked with WDUN of Gainesville as well as WSGC of Elberton with his renowned radio show called the “Hour of Sharing”.

1961 proved to be very significant in the life of W.L. On March 17, 1961, he received the Lord as his personal savior. He became a member of the Hickory Grove Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Dahlonega, GA. Since his acceptance of Christ, tremendous changes occurred. One such change came in 1963 when he accepted the call into the ministry. His leadership and dedication to Christ benefited many in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

More great things were yet to come. In 1966, Rev. Whelchel was assigned to the Elberton Circuit. Rock Springs CME, Pleasant Home CME, and White’s Chapel CME made up the aforementioned circuit. Under his guidance, a new church from the foundation upward was erected at Rock Springs. Pleasant Home and White’s Chapel were remodeled. Under his leadership, White’s Chapel soon became a full station church. Rev. Whelchel pastored and served White’s Chapel for 20+ years. He truly believed that many souls were saved, and the community family was blessed. 

In 1971, Rev. Whelchel had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Jerusalem and be baptized in the River of Jordan....just as our Savior, Jesus Christ. He thoroughly enjoyed this priceless experience.

With God continuing to guide his footsteps, Rev. Whelchel was moved to even higher heights in 1986, for it was 1986 that he was assigned as the Presiding Elder of the Elberton-Gainesville District. He was dedicated to this charge for seven years. Rev. Whelchel’s leadership as a Presiding Elder enabled him to guide many young people called into the ministry,

as well as witness many souls being saved.  Rev. Whelchel’s service to the Elberton-Gainesville District was one of great success. After seven years as Presiding Elder, Rev. Whelchel was once again appointed to serve four more years as the pastor of White’s Chapel CME Church. During this time, complete renovations were made to improve the church. Four years following, W.L.  received the appointment to pastor his home church; Hickory Grove CME Church in Dahlonega, Georgia. 

Throughout his life, Rev. Whelchel has managed to further his thirst for knowledge. He enhanced his learning of the scriptures by attending an Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) seminary training extension course in 2001-2002. In completion of this course, Rev. Whelchel received a Certificate of Theology. Some other accolades of service that Rev. Whelchel accomplished in his lifetime included membership in  the NAACP,  American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and Salvation Army Advisory Board.   He was presented the Ebony Eloquence Award by the Fair Street Butler High School Reunion Committee and lastly he was honored to receive by the Georgia State Senate, Resolution Number 809 for his years of service to the ministry. 

Life has always consisted of many obstacles for Rev. Whelchel. In 1994, he was diagnosed with cancer. He had to undergo four major operations. After the third operation, Rev. Whelchel slipped into a coma. In February 1995, unbeknownst to him, his family was preparing to bury him. Unbeknownst to his family, Rev. Whelchel had spiritually entered into a peaceful tranquility. This spiritual tranquility resulted in his healing. In the same time frame, God healed Rev. Whelchel. This healing, however, came with one stipulation. The stipulation was to exclaim to the world that God, and only God, had healed his cancer-ridden body. In the year 2002, Rev. Whelchel would once again be faced with trusting, believing, and having total faith in God. It was in that year that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. In the book of Romans, Paul tells us to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice” and that we are to be” holy and acceptable unto God”. Rev. Whelchel exemplified this very statement that Paul so boldly preached. He was truly a living testimony. Through all of his trials and tribulations, Rev. Whelchel never ceased to pastor God’s people. He was tremendously blessed to see the four generations of ministers: Rev. W.L. Whelchel, his son Rev. Eugene Whelchel, his grandson Rev. Walter James Whelchel and great grandson Austin Whelchel. 

During his tenure as Presiding Elder, the late Bishop Joseph C. Coles gave him permission to erect a new church at Hickory Grove. The groundbreaking for the church was on Sunday, March 29, 1992, and the new church was consecrated on Sunday, September 13, 1992. Rev. Whelchel continued in his ministry with a vision from God to build a Family Life Center for this community and for God’s people. Groundbreaking Services for the Life Center (The Vision) was held on Sunday, July 9, 2006. 

After 45 years in the ministry, Rev. Whelchel continued to maintain a love for God’s people and a special love for the children of the church. He always reflected back to the date of March 17, 1961 when he first met the Lord. Even after going to church had become a challenge, he would have weekly bible study with his sons and friends at his home, which was such a joy for him. This was truly his saving grace in such a time of health challenges...OH BUT GOD. 

Family has always been very important to Rev. Whelchel. He was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Earmon Whelchel; three brothers ML, Zeke and Jake Whelchel; three sisters Roselle Hamilton, Lucille Hamilton and Anne Brownlee. He leaves to cherish loving and everlasting memories with his wife of 72 years, Mrs. Rebekah T. Whelchel; two sons, Rev. Eugene Whelchel (Lena), Mr. Tony Whelchel (Bettye); one daughter, Mrs. Michele Williams (LLoyd); two sisters, Mattie Lee Hudson of Baltimore, Maryland and Ornie Lee Whelchel; 9 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and 9 great-great grandchildren, one adopted son Mr. Anthony (Chip) Footman of LaGrange, Georgia; and one adopted daughter Ms. Doris Moss of Atlanta, Georgia. 

The visitation for Rev. Whelchel will be Friday July 10^th between the hours of 12pm-8pm at Wimberly Funeral Home. Rev. Whelchel’s celebration of life will be Saturday July 11th at 11:00am at W.L . Whelchel Family Life Center. Professional Funeral Service Entrusted to Wimberly Funeral Home.

. W. L. Whelchel 90 of Gainesville passed away on Monday July 6^th

Walter Lee (W.L) Whelchel was born on April 13, 1930 in Lumpkin County, Georgia. He was the youngest of eight children born to the late Walter and Earmon Jackson Whelchel. W.L. Whelchel grew up under the guidance of his parents and older brothers and sisters in the Hickory Grove Community, located in Lumpkin County. Due to the fact that there were no public schools for the rural African-American communities, young Whelchel’s elementary years were spent at the Hickory Grove Church School. He continued his high school years at the Beulah Rucker Industrial High School when his family moved near Gainesville in 1937.

                Professionally, W.L. worked for the First National Bank of Gainesville for 32 years. He was the first African American Gospel Radio Phenomenon within the Northeast Georgia area. He worked with WDUN of Gainesville as well as WSGC of Elberton with his renowned radio show called the “Hour of Sharing”.

                1961 proved to be very significant in the life of W.L. On March 17, 1961, he received the Lord as his personal savior. He became a member of the Hickory Grove Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Dahlonega, GA. Since his acceptance of Christ, tremendous changes occurred. One such change came in 1963 when he accepted the call into the ministry. His leadership and dedication to Christ benefited many in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

                More great things were yet to come. In 1966, Rev. Whelchel was assigned to the Elberton Circuit. Rock Springs CME, Pleasant Home CME, and White’s Chapel CME made up the aforementioned circuit. Under his guidance, a new church from the foundation upward was erected at Rock Springs. Pleasant Home and White’s Chapel were remodeled. Under his leadership, White’s Chapel soon became a full station church. Rev. Whelchel pastored and served White’s Chapel for 20+ years. He truly believed that many souls were saved, and the community family was blessed. 

In 1971, Rev. Whelchel had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Jerusalem and be baptized in the River of Jordan....just as our Savior, Jesus Christ. He thoroughly enjoyed this priceless experience.

With God continuing to guide his footsteps, Rev. Whelchel was moved to even higher heights in 1986, for it was 1986 that he was assigned as the Presiding Elder of the Elberton-Gainesville District. He was dedicated to this charge for seven years. Rev. Whelchel’s leadership as a Presiding Elder enabled him to guide many young people called into the ministry,

as well as witness many souls being saved.  Rev. Whelchel’s service to the Elberton-Gainesville District was one of great success. After seven years as Presiding Elder, Rev. Whelchel was once again appointed to serve four more years as the pastor of White’s Chapel CME Church. During this time, complete renovations were made to improve the church. Four years following, W.L.  received the appointment to pastor his home church; Hickory Grove CME Church in Dahlonega, Georgia. 

Throughout his life, Rev. Whelchel has managed to further his thirst for knowledge. He enhanced his learning of the scriptures by attending an Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) seminary training extension course in 2001-2002. In completion of this course, Rev. Whelchel received a Certificate of Theology. Some other accolades of service that Rev. Whelchel accomplished in his lifetime included membership in  the NAACP,  American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and Salvation Army Advisory Board.   He was presented the Ebony Eloquence Award by the Fair Street Butler High School Reunion Committee and lastly he was honored to receive by the Georgia State Senate, Resolution Number 809 for his years of service to the ministry. 

Life has always consisted of many obstacles for Rev. Whelchel. In 1994, he was diagnosed with cancer. He had to undergo four major operations. After the third operation, Rev. Whelchel slipped into a coma. In February 1995, unbeknownst to him, his family was preparing to bury him. Unbeknownst to his family, Rev. Whelchel had spiritually entered into a peaceful tranquility. This spiritual tranquility resulted in his healing. In the same time frame, God healed Rev. Whelchel. This healing, however, came with one stipulation. The stipulation was to exclaim to the world that God, and only God, had healed his cancer-ridden body. In the year 2002, Rev. Whelchel would once again be faced with trusting, believing, and having total faith in God. It was in that year that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. In the book of Romans, Paul tells us to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice” and that we are to be” holy and acceptable unto God”. Rev. Whelchel exemplified this very statement that Paul so boldly preached. He was truly a living testimony. Through all of his trials and tribulations, Rev. Whelchel never ceased to pastor God’s people. He was tremendously blessed to see the four generations of ministers: Rev. W.L. Whelchel, his son Rev. Eugene Whelchel, his grandson Rev. Walter James Whelchel and great grandson Austin Whelchel. 

During his tenure as Presiding Elder, the late Bishop Joseph C. Coles gave him permission to erect a new church at Hickory Grove. The groundbreaking for the church was on Sunday, March 29, 1992, and the new church was consecrated on Sunday, September 13, 1992. Rev. Whelchel continued in his ministry with a vision from God to build a Family Life Center for this community and for God’s people. Groundbreaking Services for the Life Center (The Vision) was held on Sunday, July 9, 2006. 

After 45 years in the ministry, Rev. Whelchel continued to maintain a love for God’s people and a special love for the children of the church. He always reflected back to the date of March 17, 1961 when he first met the Lord. Even after going to church had become a challenge, he would have weekly bible study with his sons and friends at his home, which was such a joy for him. This was truly his saving grace in such a time of health challenges...OH BUT GOD. 

Family has always been very important to Rev. Whelchel. He was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Earmon Whelchel; three brothers ML, Zeke and Jake Whelchel; three sisters Roselle Hamilton, Lucille Hamilton and Anne Brownlee. He leaves to cherish loving and everlasting memories with his wife of 72 years, Mrs. Rebekah T. Whelchel; two sons, Rev. Eugene Whelchel (Lena), Mr. Tony Whelchel (Bettye); one daughter, Mrs. Michele Williams (LLoyd); two sisters, Mattie Lee Hudson of Baltimore, Maryland and Ornie Lee Whelchel; 9 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and 9 great-great grandchildren, one adopted son Mr. Anthony (Chip) Footman of LaGrange, Georgia; and one adopted daughter Ms. Doris Moss of Atlanta, Georgia. 

The visitation for Rev. Whelchel will be Friday July 10^th between the hours of 12pm-8pm at Wimberly Funeral Home. Rev. Whelchel’s celebration of life will be Saturday July 11th at 11:00am at W.L . Whelchel Family Life Center. Professional Funeral Service Entrusted to Wimberly Funeral Home.