Carol Whitehead, co-founder of the Rutherford Institute, was remembered Thursday as a devoted mother and grandmother who treated everyone she met with respect and love.
Whitehead, 60, died suddenly and unexpectedly Wednesday at the offices of the Albemarle County-based civil rights organization.
Whitehead co-founded the Rutherford Institute with her husband, John, 27 years ago.
"Finest person I ever knew," John Whitehead said Thursday.
A press release from the institute said: "If John W. Whitehead is the head of the Rutherford Institute, his wife Carol has been the heart, always ready to offer a smile, a gentle word and an understanding ear."
The Whiteheads had been married for 42 years. Ruther-ford said his wife was an "outgoing, friendly and sweet person." He recalled how she had long served as his best copy editor, always willing to be honest about his work. She typed and edited the manuscript for his first best-selling book, "The Second American Revolution."
Rutherford said he and his wife did everything together. She was, he said, completely invested in their family and the institute.
"When he first thought to start the Rutherford Institute, believing that God was calling him to stand in defense of people whose rights were being violated, it was Carol who prayed with him about it," the release said. "And when no one else would give him the money to get started, it was Carol who helped scrape up enough to get things going and sacrificed along the way to keep it going."
In a 2007 article marking the Rutherford Institute's 25th anniversary, Carol Whitehead recalled the early days of the organization. "We couldn't see what was in store for us, but we felt sure that was what God wanted us to do, and we took a step of faith."
In a statement Thursday, Joel Whitehead, the family's second youngest son, wrote that he will cherish his mother's memory.
"God looked down upon our family and chose to take the best of us, yet it is in His love that I can move on," he wrote. "To quote Tennyson, it is ‘better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.' I could now live my life to the fullest and not come close to the example she set. My mother was small in physical stature; but in character and love, she was a giant."
Whitehead, 60, died suddenly and unexpectedly Wednesday at the offices of the Albemarle County-based civil rights organization.
Whitehead co-founded the Rutherford Institute with her husband, John, 27 years ago.
"Finest person I ever knew," John Whitehead said Thursday.
A press release from the institute said: "If John W. Whitehead is the head of the Rutherford Institute, his wife Carol has been the heart, always ready to offer a smile, a gentle word and an understanding ear."
The Whiteheads had been married for 42 years. Ruther-ford said his wife was an "outgoing, friendly and sweet person." He recalled how she had long served as his best copy editor, always willing to be honest about his work. She typed and edited the manuscript for his first best-selling book, "The Second American Revolution."
Rutherford said he and his wife did everything together. She was, he said, completely invested in their family and the institute.
"When he first thought to start the Rutherford Institute, believing that God was calling him to stand in defense of people whose rights were being violated, it was Carol who prayed with him about it," the release said. "And when no one else would give him the money to get started, it was Carol who helped scrape up enough to get things going and sacrificed along the way to keep it going."
In a 2007 article marking the Rutherford Institute's 25th anniversary, Carol Whitehead recalled the early days of the organization. "We couldn't see what was in store for us, but we felt sure that was what God wanted us to do, and we took a step of faith."
In a statement Thursday, Joel Whitehead, the family's second youngest son, wrote that he will cherish his mother's memory.
"God looked down upon our family and chose to take the best of us, yet it is in His love that I can move on," he wrote. "To quote Tennyson, it is ‘better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.' I could now live my life to the fullest and not come close to the example she set. My mother was small in physical stature; but in character and love, she was a giant."
Carol Whitehead, co-founder of the Rutherford Institute, was remembered Thursday as a devoted mother and grandmother who treated everyone she met with respect and love.
Whitehead, 60, died suddenly and unexpectedly Wednesday at the offices of the Albemarle County-based civil rights organization.
Whitehead co-founded the Rutherford Institute with her husband, John, 27 years ago.
"Finest person I ever knew," John Whitehead said Thursday.
A press release from the institute said: "If John W. Whitehead is the head of the Rutherford Institute, his wife Carol has been the heart, always ready to offer a smile, a gentle word and an understanding ear."
The Whiteheads had been married for 42 years. Ruther-ford said his wife was an "outgoing, friendly and sweet person." He recalled how she had long served as his best copy editor, always willing to be honest about his work. She typed and edited the manuscript for his first best-selling book, "The Second American Revolution."
Rutherford said he and his wife did everything together. She was, he said, completely invested in their family and the institute.
"When he first thought to start the Rutherford Institute, believing that God was calling him to stand in defense of people whose rights were being violated, it was Carol who prayed with him about it," the release said. "And when no one else would give him the money to get started, it was Carol who helped scrape up enough to get things going and sacrificed along the way to keep it going."
In a 2007 article marking the Rutherford Institute's 25th anniversary, Carol Whitehead recalled the early days of the organization. "We couldn't see what was in store for us, but we felt sure that was what God wanted us to do, and we took a step of faith."
In a statement Thursday, Joel Whitehead, the family's second youngest son, wrote that he will cherish his mother's memory.
"God looked down upon our family and chose to take the best of us, yet it is in His love that I can move on," he wrote. "To quote Tennyson, it is ‘better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.' I could now live my life to the fullest and not come close to the example she set. My mother was small in physical stature; but in character and love, she was a giant."
Whitehead, 60, died suddenly and unexpectedly Wednesday at the offices of the Albemarle County-based civil rights organization.
Whitehead co-founded the Rutherford Institute with her husband, John, 27 years ago.
"Finest person I ever knew," John Whitehead said Thursday.
A press release from the institute said: "If John W. Whitehead is the head of the Rutherford Institute, his wife Carol has been the heart, always ready to offer a smile, a gentle word and an understanding ear."
The Whiteheads had been married for 42 years. Ruther-ford said his wife was an "outgoing, friendly and sweet person." He recalled how she had long served as his best copy editor, always willing to be honest about his work. She typed and edited the manuscript for his first best-selling book, "The Second American Revolution."
Rutherford said he and his wife did everything together. She was, he said, completely invested in their family and the institute.
"When he first thought to start the Rutherford Institute, believing that God was calling him to stand in defense of people whose rights were being violated, it was Carol who prayed with him about it," the release said. "And when no one else would give him the money to get started, it was Carol who helped scrape up enough to get things going and sacrificed along the way to keep it going."
In a 2007 article marking the Rutherford Institute's 25th anniversary, Carol Whitehead recalled the early days of the organization. "We couldn't see what was in store for us, but we felt sure that was what God wanted us to do, and we took a step of faith."
In a statement Thursday, Joel Whitehead, the family's second youngest son, wrote that he will cherish his mother's memory.
"God looked down upon our family and chose to take the best of us, yet it is in His love that I can move on," he wrote. "To quote Tennyson, it is ‘better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.' I could now live my life to the fullest and not come close to the example she set. My mother was small in physical stature; but in character and love, she was a giant."
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