Obituary of Rena Faye Brooks Whaley

Funeral services for Rena Faye Brooks Whaley, 65, of Valley, Alabama will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2020, at 3:00 PM at Pine Grove Baptist Church in Heflin, Alabama.  Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery with Benefield Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 4:00-8:00 PM on Saturday, November 7, 2020. Ms. Whaley will lie in state at the church from 2:30-3:00 PM on Sunday before services begin.

Ms. Whaley passed away Thursday, November 5, 2020, at Lafayette Nursing Home.

Survivors include: three daughters, Jessica VanHouten (Matt) of Valley, Jackie Mitchell (Matt) of Lake City, FL, and Anita Whaley of Lanett; ten grandchildren, Josh Sims, Jonathan Whaley, Braxton Fetner, Treber Fetner, Kabe Fetner, Colten Mitchell, Julie Smith, Jasper VanHouten, Myles VanHouten, and Jevan VanHouten; two great-grandchildren, Hunter and Madison Whaley; two sisters, Linda Brooks and Janet Combs (Lee), both of Franklin; Sister-in-law, Eva Brooks of Roanoke; five brothers, Ralph “Peanut” Brooks of Wedowee, Bo Brooks (Carol) of Pell City, Tony Brooks of Franklin, LA, John Brooks (Chenel) and Doyle Brooks, both of Valley; and a host of special nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Matt VanHouten, Bo Brooks, John Brooks, Doyle Brooks, Allen Harmon, and Ralph Brooks.

A longtime Valley native, Ms. Whaley was born in Anniston on November 17, 1954, the daughter of Birsey Dee and Nellie Faye McCulley Brooks.  She worked as a West Point Pepperell and enjoyed reading, gardening and her flowers, and playing bingo.  Ms. Whaley was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Gregory Brooks; and sister, Melba Hall.