Ida Whitehurst

Ida Whitehurst went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at age 78. She was surrounded by her family and passed away peacefully.

Ida was born on February 4th 1944, the sixth of eight children, to the late Jimmie and Lizzie Chisolm in Luray, South Carolina. She moved to Florida, Georgia, and New Jersey starting at age of 4 and then eventually to Chester, PA to live with her mother around the age of 7. Ida attended Chester High School during her time there.

Ida moved back to New Jersey where she was a dedicated employee at Lightolier for 15 years, then retired from Luminaire after 23 years. She was a supervisor who taught her team how to make the light fixtures, read blueprints, along with other critical processes. Along the way she met some great co-workers whom she was still friends with to this day. During this time, she met and married her husband of 23 years, Johnnie Whitehurst, who passed away in 2009.

She moved back to Chester 10 years ago where she continued to show her sharing, warm, and funny spirit. She didn’t let retirement slow her down and spent her time as an active member of St. Luke C.C. Church and becoming part of the Prayer Warriors where she showed an unwavering faith in God. Her generosity was on full display by her hosting several Christmas free bingo events for the residents of her building, providing household necessities, clothes, and fun items. You could often find her in the kitchen cooking for the residents and making her famous cornbread and cakes for her family and friends.

Even though Ida knew her time was short near the end, as a woman of faith, she knew she would be going to the “mansion” that was prepared for her to reunite with family and friends who passed before her. “Don't grieve for me, from pain I'm free, I'm following the path God has laid, you see.”

She leaves to cherish her memories: sister Rebecca Jerrell; nieces “Vangie” Redfern (Tracy Redfern), Loreitha Lacewell, Sandra Pettiford-Stevenson, Denise “Niecy” Chisolm, Tammy Pettiford, Erica Chisolm and Cardinale (Ryan Dougal) Smith; uncle Willie Pollin; in-laws Lacie Chisolm, Carol Chisolm, Demarest Chisolm, and James Lacewell; best friend Sandra “Mickey Mouse” Sarmiento; friends Olga Cyupak, Liz Dabrowski, Garthenia “Cookie” Hamm, and Antonia Braxton; A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Predeceased by her husband Johnnie Whitehurst; brothers Eddie Chisolm, Eugene Chisolm, James “Lonnie” Chisolm, Lucious Chisolm, and Rufus Perry; sisters Lula Mae Couch and Bernice Lacewell.

Psalm 23

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

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