Michael Orville Whittaker

Reverend Michael (Mike) Orville Whittaker was the third of three boys, and two girls, born to the late Raphael Barrington Whittaker and Muriel Mireta Whittaker, in Kingston, Jamaica, on February 15, 1957. Michael attended Maxfield Avenue Primary School, and matriculated through Calabar High School, where he was a well-renowned soccer player, even representing his team in the Manning Cup. Michael remained an active member of the Calabar Old Boys Association, whose mission is to continue to improve the lives of current Calabar H.S. young men.
As a youth, Michael followed in the footsteps of his siblings, by attending The Jamaica School of Music, where he learned to play the violin. His mother, Muriel, also taught him, his cousins, neighbors and many others, how to play the piano. Michael was so convinced that he had the makings of being the modern day Mozart that he ventured to be the resident musician at his late brother, Paul's wedding.
Michael attended College of Arts Science and Technology (CAST), after which he ventured into the insurance industry. He worked at the Victoria Mutual Building Society, where he met and fell in love with his soul mate, confidant, and life-long partner, Grace Deborah-Anne Salmon, who he would subsequently wed in 1982. From their loving and inspiring union, son Marc Shaun-Craig was born in 1983 in Jamaica, and 6 years later, daughter Danielle Eboni was born in Atlanta.
In 1986, Michael migrated to Houston, TX with his friends Hebert (Leppy) Thompson and Merle Greenwood, in search of the American Dream, which somehow managed to evade them. After about 6 months of chasing an elusive dream, Michael decided to move to Atlanta, where his mother, brother, and sisters already resided. The timing was perfect for Grace and Marc to join Michael in Atlanta, where they would once again be afforded opportunities to revisit their American Dream. Michael worked and tested his entrepreneurial prowess with A.L. Williams, which has now evolved into Primerica. With Michael's prior insurance background from Jamaica, he quickly rose to Senior Vice President with A.L. Williams, and flourished with the company for several years.
Michael was also a successful realtor, and was very instrumental in helping numerous family members, friends and clients to relocate to Atlanta from all over the US, and to purchase their homes. It was while working at IKON Office Solutions, that Michael received and was obedient to God's calling into the ministry.
In the 1990's, Michael served as Lay Pastor and Worship Leader at Clifton United Methodist Church (UMC). He also provided extensive service to the Break the Chain Youth Ministries, and was a student minister at Bowen UMC in 2000.
Committed to full time ministry, Michael studied to equip himself, and received a BA. in Biblical Studies, from Beulah Heights Bible College in May 2004, and a Masters of Divinity from Gammon Theological Seminary ITC in May 2009.
Michael received his first appointment from the United Methodist Church to serve as a part-time local pastor at Redan UMC in 2001, where under his leadership, the church flourished and grew substantially, during his four-year tenure. Pastor Mike, as he was affectionately called by his congregation, was instrumental in significantly increasing the Caribbean population at Redan UMC. Pastor Mike served as Associate Pastor at Zoar UMC from 2005 – 2011, and was appointed as Associate Pastor at Mountain Park UMC from 2011 – 2015, with responsibility for the Contemporary Worship service. Pastor Mike was ordained as an Elder in Full Connection in 2013. As a result of a debilitating illness, Pastor Mike retired from Mountain Park in January 2016, after four years of committed, selfless service to the Mountain Park congregation and community.
Pastor Mike was instrumental in introducing "Lunches of Love" to Mountain Park UMC. This program provides free lunches during the summer, for kids who receive free/reduced lunches during the school year. Pastor Mike was also very involved with the Walk to Emmaus, Pathway East, after experiencing his own walk in April 2006. He subsequently served as a Spiritual Director on several Pathway East Walks.

Compassion was a hallmark of Pastor Mike's ministry, as he served several years as a Hospice Chaplain, praying and ministering with those facing life limiting illnesses. He was an ardent Stephen Ministry leader, and recruited assiduously at Mountain Park to increase the number of Stephen Ministers in the congregation.

Pastor Mike was also passionate about prayer wherever he served, and was integrally involved in improving the prayer lives of those around him. To that end, he was diligent about teaching about prayer and leading Bible Studies and small groups that stressed the importance of prayer.

Michael loved life, and embraced it to the fullest. He was a doting husband, caring family man, loyal friend, and compassionate human being, who always seemed to have a joke or anecdotal story for just about every situation. In addition to his life-long passion for soccer, he was a self-proclaimed table tennis champion, who offered no mercy for unsuspecting opponents. Michael enjoyed watching football, and basketball, loved to travel, and took great pride in spending quality time with family and friends. Michael's laughter was infectious, and he had a magical way of bringing peace and calm to any situation.

Michael is survived by his wife, Grace Deborah-Anne Whittaker; son, Marc Shaun-Craig Whittaker; daughter, Danielle Eboni Whittaker; mother, Muriel Mireta Whittaker; sister, Dr. Allison N.W. Whittaker Brown; nephews and niece, Charles Aarington Brown, Taylor Allison-Marie Brown, Tyler Aaron Brown, Omar Whittaker, Antwanne Whittaker, Patrick Ashton Whittaker, and William Ware. Michael was preceded in death by his father, Raphael Barrington Whittaker; brothers, Patrick Monty Whittaker, Richard Barrington Whittaker, and Paul Anthony Whittaker; sister, Ingrid Elizabeth Ann-Marie Whittaker Ware, Esq., and maternal and paternal grandparents. Michael also leaves behind a host of cousins, aunts, uncles, other relatives, and friends, who all loved him dearly. "Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning." We are overflowing with joy that you are resting in the bosom of our Heavenly Father. "Rest in Peace, Michael…We Love You!"

In lieu of flowers donations are being accepted to the "Lunches of Love" at Mountain Park, either by check or online.




Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033