Myrtle Adell Witherspoon

Early Sunday morning, October 29, 2023, Myrtle had the long-awaited joy of meeting her Lord and Savior face to face.  She was born March 4, 1926, in Washington, DC, to the late William Francis Morris and his wife Lillian Arley (Herrell) Morris. 

She grew up on Ingleside Terrace NW, Washington DC, when it was still a safe place to live. Myrtle spent most of her summers at Selby-on-the-Bay in Maryland, where her mother owned the King Tut Inn. The family always enjoyed hearing stories of her adventures with her sister, Madge, though her own children would never have gotten away with such things! Myrtle graduated from Central High School and went to work at the Russian Embassy.

Myrtle spent a lot of time at the local skating rink, and it was there she met a handsome sailor from Tennessee.  She and Buddy Witherspoon were married August 19, 1944. They had three children, Carolyn Adell, Bedford Forrest III, and Bonnie Irene. Not long after she married, she started a childcare business, then was a stay-at-home mom.  In 1956, Myrtle received the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior.  She always thought she would get to heaven because she was a good person and if anyone made it, she would.  But the Bible showed her she was wrong, that being good was not enough.  She believed what God said and it changed her life! Myrtle started a "Good News Bible Club" for the children in her neighborhood and also taught Sunday School classes for many years.  Both of these had positive effects that are still remembered today.  Later she became a department manager for Sears and Roebuck.   

When her first grandchild arrived, she stated that she was too young to be a grandma and would teach him to call her "Sweet Mama". Well, it stuck, and everyone today knows her as Sweet Mama!

 

Sweet Mama has now joined her husband, Bedford "Buddy" Witherspoon and grandson, David Black in heaven. She is survived by her three children, Carolyn Black (Hugo), Bedford "Mike" Witherspoon and Bonnie Drayer (Mike).  She is also survived by 9 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and 11 great, great grandchildren!

 

 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Myrtle Witherspoon's name to:

 

Bible Baptist Church of Waldorf

P.O. Box 946 

Waldorf, MD  20604

or

Hospice of the Chesapeake Foundation

John and Cathy Belcher Campus

90 Ritchie Highway

Pasadena, MD  21122