By By MaryClaire Foster
Annie Ruth Whitten, who at 97 years of age, touched countless numbers of lives through her years of teaching and being active in the community, passed away Saturday at her home.
Whitten was born in Greensboro, grew up in Evergreen and moved to Atmore in 1944 with her husband, Thomas Pierce Whitten.
Whitten came from a family of college graduates and in 1933 graduated from Huntingdon College with degrees in English and math.
From there she began her career in education, teaching for 35 years in the state with 29 spent at Escambia County High School.
Whitten and her husband were unable to have biological children, but friend, the Rev. Albert Kennington spoke at her funeral Monday of them having “thousands of children.”
Randy Nichols was a pallbearer at the funeral and said more than half the people in attendance were former students.
Charles Carlton became acquainted with the Whittens when he was just six months old. His father took the position of pastor of the First United Methodist Church, where the Whittens were members.
Nichols lived next door to the Whittens for seven years with his wife, Melissa, forming a special bond with the couple.
Melissa Nichols said Whitten was always giving of herself constantly putting others first.
Melissa Nichols said Whitten often expressed remorse of the Nichols moving houses and no longer being her neighbor.
Besides her passion for education, friends said she was strong in her Methodist faith and enjoyed entertaining loved ones.
Memorials may be made to the Atmore First United Methodist Church.