Melba Jean Loe Whittington

Melba Jean Loe Whittington, Tillie, 87, passed away on May 7, 2025 at her home in Lake Charles. She was born on February 26, 1938, in Jonesboro La to Arnold and Cloma Ginn Loe. She graduated from West Monroe High School in 1956 and attended Northeast Louisiana University for three years before joining the workforce with the West Monroe Police Department.

She married Louis (Cotton) Whittington in 1957 and later began working for Century Telephone when it was still using Dixie cups and strings for rural communication in Marion, La. She was an important part (and grateful stockholder) of their transition to a major national corporation. Mom was blessed to work with an exceptional group of lifetime friends at Century Telephone before retiring in 1996 with 34 years of service. She enjoyed gardening, following Cotton all around the South as he worked constructing various brick buildings, and most of all spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Tillie was an active member of First Baptist Church of West Monroe for many years before she and Cotton moved to Lake Charles when their first grandchild, Jett Olney, was born. She and Cotton became active members of Trinity Baptist Church and in later years First Moss Bluff Baptist Church, where they enjoyed much fellowship and many friends.

Tillie was preceded in death by her husband, Cotton, and her parents, Arnold and Cloma Loe. Left to cherish her memory is her brother, Arnold Ray Loe (Shirley), of West Monroe La, daughter, Cammie Olney (David) of Lake Charles, son, Kirk Whittington (Julie) of Hendersonville Tn., and three precious grandchildren, Jett Olney and Luke Whittington (Savannah) and Aspen Whittington.

The family extends grateful thanks to the wonderful caregivers including Jett Olney, Dorothy Carter, Ivon Ramirez, Sabrina Beaty, and Deyanid Rivera.

We will honor Tillie's memory at a Celebration of Life hosting family and friends on Saturday June 21,2025, 5:00-7:00, at home of Cammie and David, in Lake Charles.