DEARING, Ga. - Mr. Edward Heggie Whitaker, 73, of Dearing, entered into rest Sept. 15, 2011. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, at the New Hope Baptist Church with the Rev. Allen Holbrook officiating. Interment with full military honors followed in the Harlem Memorial Cemetery. Mr. Whitaker was born in Harlem, and was the son of the late Heggie Byron Whitaker and the late Darrene Bales Whitaker. He served in the U. S. Navy during Vietnam and retired as a highly decorated Command Master Chief Submariner with 30 years active service. Mr. Whitaker also retired from Florida Power Company and in 2002 he left his home in Altamonte Springs, Fla., and moved to Dearing. He was a member of New Hope Baptist Church. Survivors include his beloved wife, Linda Carithers Whitaker; daughters, Sonja Whitaker of Thomson, Cheryl White and husband, Mike of Groveland, Fla., Sheila Toney and husband, Bart of Thomson, and Cyndi Wells and husband, Jay of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; son, Quentin Whitaker and wife, Nicole of Winter Haven, Fla.; brothers, Ervin Whitaker of Virginia, and Wayne Whitaker of Thomson; sisters, Velma Sager of Mathis W.V., Vandella Inglett of Augusta, Vanessa McCorkle of Thomson, Virginia Holliman of Dearing, and Veronica Whitaker of Augusta; eight grandchildren, Pamela Obrien, Nick Palma, Alisha Ogletree, Kayla Whitaker, Javen Wells and Jeffrey Wells and four great-grandchildren, McKenzie Brandt, Austin DeUnger, Sophia Ogletree, Rheya Rodgers. Mr. Whitaker was preceded in death by two sisters, Vivian Mitchell and Verma Anderson. Memorials may be made to New Hope Baptist Church, 1424 Cobbham Rd., Thomson, GA 30824. Beggs Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.