Ornie Lee Whelchel

Ornie Lee Whelchel was born on July 18, 1927 in Lumpkin County, Georgia.  She born to the late Walter and Earmon Jackson Whelchel. Ornie Lee Whelchel grew up under the guidance of her 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, Ornie Lee elementary years were spent at the Hickory Grove Church School. She continued her high school years at the Beulah Rucker Industrial High School when her family moved near Gainesville in 1937. 

Professionally, Ornie Lee worked for Hall County Hospital, presently named Northeast Georgia Medical Center for 40 years as a Surgical Technician before her retirement. Ornie Lee’s great loves where bowling and her family.  She was the first African American woman Georgia State Champion bowler and the first African American woman representative to the Queens National Bowling Tournament from Georgia.  Ms. Whelchel was a born again Christian and she served the Hickory Grove Christian Methodist Episcopal Church her entire life. She was on the usher board and was the churches medical personnel.  She was a joy to everyone she met, as she was affectual called “Ms. Ornie” by everybody. 

Family has always been very important to Ms.. Whelchel. She was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Earmon Whelchel; four brothers ML, Zeke, Jake and W.L. Whelchel; three sisters Roselle Hamilton, Lucille Hamilton and Anne Brownlee.   She leaves to cherish loving and everlasting memories with her daughter Ms. Carolyn Ann Hamilton, one sister Mattie Lee Hudson of Baltimore, Maryland; three grandchildren, Rev. Darryl E. Lyle (Jacqueline), Mr. Patrick T. Hamilton(Evelyn), Mrs. Vadale L. Johnson(Sylvester); nine great-grandchildren, Mrs. Shannon R. Wise(Raphael), Mr. Adairius J. Gardner, Ms. Chanel L. Bess, Mr. Christian Hamilton(Shelbie), Mrs. Skyler Dix(Joel), Mr. Kaden Hamilton, Mr. Peyton Hamilton, Ms. Christena Hopkins, Mr. Ernest Davis IV;  three great-great-grandchildren, Christian L. Bess, Jaden C. Wise and Kamryn B. Hopkins; one adopted daughter, Ms. Deborah Ann Goudlock; and a host of nieces and nephews and cousins .

The visitation will be Friday October 9, 2020 at Wimberly Funeral Home between the hours of 12-8pm. Ms. Whelchel’s Celebration of Life will be Saturday at 11am at Hickory Grove CME Church. Professional Service Entrusted to Wimberly Funeral Home.