Donald Renaldo Whiting Jr.

Donald R. Whiting Jr. of Forest Park, GA passed away on January 6, 2024. Donald, the son of Barbara J. Baxter and the late Donald R. Whiting Sr. was born on February 12, 1961, in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Archdiocese of Detroit Schools, Presentation OLV and Precious Blood. He graduated from the Detroit Public Schools’ Mumford High School in 1979.

Donald moved to Atlanta in 1983. He loved working and held several jobs. He worked at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport for almost 20 years, first as a bartender for Dobbs House and then as a baggage handler for AirTran Airways. He also sold insurance and cars. Due to illness, Donald retired in 2010. He was so happy when he was approved to work as a part-time maintenance person for the Clayton County Library System – Riverdale Branch in 2018. He often stated it was his favorite job. Due to illness, he was unable to work after 2019. Donald achieved his dream of home ownership in 2017. He loved watching sports, particularly the Detroit Lions (his favorite team) and watching reruns of his favorite TV show, In the Heat of the Night.

Since 2010, Donald was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Through their fellowship, prayers, and hospital visits, church members lifted his spirits during his illnesses. He prized the Bible presented to him by church members.

Donald cherished his only child, his son, Donald III.  His son donated a kidney to his father in 2005. The transplant kidney lasted 14 years, one of the longest lasting transplants at Piedmont Transplant Institute.

Donald is survived by his son, four grandchildren whom he dearly loved, Deavionne, Donald IV, Donte and Dominic, his mother (Barbara), twin sister (Donna), half-sisters (Denise and Deborah), the mother of his child (Pat), nieces, a nephew, cousins, and his faithful Golden Shepard, Precious.

Family, friends, and others who Donald touched are invited for a Visitation at the ANTHONY L. WATKINS FUNERAL HOME, 163 North Avenue, Jonesboro at 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 18, 2024, to reminisce, grieve, support each other, and, of course, just chat.