Faye Craft Whetsell

Faye Craft Whetsell, age 69, passed away on July 30, 2024, in Lynchburg, Virginia. She was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to Bobby Craft and Betty Lou (Rudd) Craft, both of whom pre-deceased her. Faye was the second oldest of five children.

Faye is survived by her siblings: Stan Craft (Susie) of Charleston, SC, Gene Craft (Christi) of Greenville, SC, Hamilton Craft of Lynchburg, VA, and Bobbie Lou Craft of Tooele, Utah. She is also survived by her children: Elizabeth Whetsell (Andrew) of Durham, NC, and Stuart Whetsell (Meredith) of Lynchburg, Virginia. Her legacy continues with her four cherished grandchildren: Viola Faye Gibson, Francis Gibson, Eli Whetsell, and Elizabeth McCrea Whetsell, along with a host of loving nieces and nephews.

Faye was a proud former ICU Nurse, most recently working at Cape Fear Valley Hospital in Fayetteville, NC. She dedicated nearly twenty years to nursing, touching countless lives with her care and compassion.

Faye loved her family passionately and was fiercely loyal to them. Her grandchildren held a special place in her heart, and she spent as much time as possible with them in her final years. Known for her vivacious personality and infectious energy, Faye’s laugh, a distinctive cackle, could be heard from a mile away. She was a phenomenal cook who enjoyed hosting and cooking for others. Faye never met a stranger and valued kindness and love above all else. However, she was also known for her candid nature, especially when defending her loved ones.

To her family and friends, she will always be "Grandma" or "Grandma Faye," remembered for her love of a tall glass of white wine, a good meal, and conversations filled with laughter and love.

Elizabeth and Stuart would like to extend heartfelt thanks to their Uncle Ham, Faye's constant companion who cared for her with unwavering love as she battled cancer. They also thank the staff of the Lynchburg General Hospital ICU for their incredible end-of-life care and Dr. John Plankeel and Dr. Cecilia Maccallum for their compassion and clinical expertise that allowed Faye to fight as long and hard as she did.

The family will host a celebration of her life at a later date. For those interested in more information, please contact Elizabeth at elizabeth.whetsell@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Centra Foundation's Cancer Patient Support Fund at https://www.centrahealth.com/foundation.

Faye's light, laughter, and love will remain in our hearts forever.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg is assisting the family.