Raymond Sherwood Whitehead

A funeral service for Raymond Sherwood Whitehead, age 87, of Nacogdoches is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at the Apostolic Lighthouse. A visitation for friends and family will be held at 10:00 a.m. preceding the service. Burial will follow at Shiloh Cemetery in Denning.

Mr. Whitehead passed away March 10, 2023. He was born March 19, 1935 in Denning, TX to the late Carl B. and Velma Gladys Bradberry Whitehead. Mr. Whitehead graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Master's Degree and devoted his time to teaching in Batesville ISD and Silsbee ISD. He was at the forefront of hands on education, using exciting lab experiments to help students enjoy and master the subject of Science. Having a brilliant ear for music, he taught himself to play the guitar, banjo and fiddle among other instruments. He loved having other musicians gather at his home to play bluegrass and gospel tunes. In his spare time, Mr. Whitehead grew vegetables, fruit trees, and flowers or worked in his shop on his latest projects. He could build anything as well as salvage, fix and repair everything from a child's toy to complicated electronics. When he and his wife, Helen, became grandparents, all hobbies and interests took a backseat to the beloved grandchildren who became their number one priority.

For many years, Mr. Whitehead was a member of the First Pentecostal Church of Silsbee and later a member of the Apostolic Lighthouse in Nacogdoches. He served as a musician, teacher, youth leader and volunteer for numerous projects to help bless the ministry and congregation.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Minton Whitehead, and by brothers, Edwin Whitehead and Ray Whitehead. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Kristi and Edwin Roark of Georgetown, TX, son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Brandy Whitehead of Alto, TX, seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a brother, Carlis Whitehead and wife Barbara of Nacogdoches.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at the Apostolic Lighthouse in Nacogdoches, TX. Pastor Brent Crosswhite will be officiating.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Tupelo Children's Mansion, mansionkids.org.