Rev. Dr. Janice Whitaker, 80, of Charlotte, NC, passed away on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC.

A Celebration of Life for

 Rev. Dr. Janice Mazella Cassaberry Whitaker

Sunrise: 07/19/1945

Sunset: 04/25/2026

In the wee hours of the morning while her father was away serving in the army and before the Dr arrived, Janice was born at home in Winston-Salem, NC on Friday July 19, 1945. She was the 3rd child and first daughter born to James and Naomi Cassaberry.

Janice grew up in Winston-Salem NC and attended public schools there. After graduating High School, she moved to Brooklyn NY where she met and married Hilton Whitaker, Jr. To this union two children were born: Hilton III and Latoni Elise. After relocating to Plainfield, NJ, Janice graduated from college. After retiring on 1/1/2001 from her job of 28 years as a Day Training Center Supervisor for the State of NJ, Janice earned her Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate of Christian Education degrees. She was also ordained to the title of Reverend in Aug. 2006.

While living in NJ, Janice was a member of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church for 30 years, where she was Sunday School Superintendent, taught the intermediate and adult Sunday School classes, Wednesday bible study, Deacon/Deaconess & Missionary Bible Study and New members classes. She oversaw the Bulletin Board ministry, was a Prison ministry volunteer, choir member, Deaconess, served on the benevolent committee and regularly attended prayer meeting. She religiously visited the sick and shut in.

She taught at Liberty Bible college in Elizabeth NJ.

She, her daughter and granddaughter relocated to Charlotte NC on 12/11/07 and they became members of Ebenezer Baptist Church in June 2008. At Ebenezer she participated in the Intercessory Prayer ministry, Sunday School, Sr. Saints Bible Study, Sr. Adult and Women’s ministries.

Janice’s parents James and Naomi Cassaberry predeceased her as did her brothers Norman and Donald Cassaberry and sister Ruth Cassaberry.

She’s survived by her 2 children Hilton Whitaker, III and Latoni Kendrick; 2 bonus children Eunique Davis and Megan Plummer; 3 grandchildren Jared Whitaker, Jenee Anderson and Hilary Whitaker; 2 great grandchildren Skylar Anderson and Hilton Whitaker, IV; Loving son in law Martin Kendrick and special daughter in law Diane Barr: Brothers Aaron and James Cassaberry; Sisters Jacqueline Hill, Wanda Davidson, Velva Saunders; half-sisters, Rachael “Shirley” Cassaberry and Anne Easter; nieces, nephews’ friends and church families at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Plfd, NJ and Ebenezer Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC

On April 25, 2026, Janice went home to be with the Lord! REJOICE!

 Written by Janice Whitaker