Francois (Buddy) Hearn Whitten was born on Sept. 25, 1952.
He was 72 years old.
He was born at Jordan Hospital in Eatonton to Charles Alvin Whitten, Sr., an FBI agent under J Edgar Hoover, and to Queenie (Polly) Octavia Pollard Whitten, a WWII army nurse.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Dr. Charles Alvin Whitten, Jr, and his sister, Varue Whitten Oishei.
He attended Putnam County Grammar School and Putnam County High School and graduated from Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, Georgia. He continued his education at Georgia College, where he earned a BS degree in Medical Technology and his RN degree.
He worked for several years in Hinesville, Georgia, and then returned to work at Central State in Milledgeville and Putnam General Hospital in Eatonton.
He is survived by his beloved companion, Jody Riddle of Eatonton; his brother, Dr. Richard D. Whitten; his wife, Jamie, of Carrollton, Georgia; his nephew, Richard D.
Whitten, Jr., and wife, Amy, and a great-niece and nephew of Diamond Bar, California; nephew, Charles A. Whitten, III, and wife, Katie, of Woodbury, Minnesota; and a niece, Paula Whitten-Doolin, and husband, Oliver, and a great-nephew and two great nieces of Houston, Texas. Additional survivors include nine additional nieces and nephews.
Buddy was a superb master in the art of Brunswick stew making over an open fire and a large cast iron stew pot in his backyard, accompanied by his brother, Dick.
He was an enormously caring son and served selflessly as the caregiver for his mother, Queenie, for years until she died in 2008. He loved Jody, his family, and Eatonton. His death came too soon for all of us. He was loved, and he will be missed.
The family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00 a.m., before the service at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Vining Ivy Hill Chapel in Eatonton. Instead of flowers, the family asks that memorials be given to the Red Cross or a charity of choice for the victims of the recent hurricane.