Fay Whittle

Fay Whittle, age 97, of Newark, DE, passed away on Sunday, July 6, 2025. She was born Grace Fay Maddy on June 18, 1928, in Boston, MA. She attended elementary school in MA until she was ten years old, and was active in school plays and dancing. Her father was employed by the Robert Gould Shaw estate in Newton, MA. Fay’s family, including her twin brother and sister born in 1932, traveled in Oklahoma, Indiana, Kansas, and Maryland, visiting her father’s relatives after the hurricane of ’38. Fay attended schools in these states. Her family returned to New London, NH, where her father was employed by Shaw’s daughter, Christine Cates. Fay attended public schools in New London, was active in 4-H and sports, and took riding (with her favorite pinto pony) and dance lessons. The family returned to East Weymouth, MA, when her father changed employers, first working for Weymouth Art Leather and then Bethlehem Steel at Fore River Shipyard and Hingham Shipyard. Fay attended Weymouth High, where she was active in local theatre groups, and school sports. She was a leader in the East Weymouth Congregational Church youth group, Christian Endeavor, where she served as president. She traveled to Northfield Seminary for several summers with the Christian Endeavor groups from many states. Fay graduated from high school in 1947 and worked at R.H. Stearns Co. in Boston, an upscale department store. In 1948, she wed Norman H. Whittle of Weymouth and moved to Providence where her husband attended Brown University. She worked for Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Co. in Providence, attended classes at Bryant and Stratton, and was active in a sewing circle. In 1951, she moved to Wilmington, DE, where her husband was employed by DuPont. She began work with DuPont in the Polychemicals Department, and became involved with theatre and helped start the Limelighters Theatre Group at the DuPont Country Club. She was active in almost every stage of production: performing, props, make-up, costumes, program advertising, and public relations. She was awarded the DuPont Country Club Award for 1965. Fay continued her active involvement with theatre at the Delaware Opera, working both backstage in make-up, costumes and props, and as a docent in their showcase houses. She was actively involved with the Junior Division of the DE Opera, which produced plays for children and families, again working on casting, make-up, costumes, props, public relations, and tickets. The Brecks Mill Cronies and the Arden Singers was also part of her life. She helped establish The Children’s Repertory Theater and was responsible for booking the touring part of the group into local schools to bring quality theater, under the direction of Marie Swajeski, to school children across the state. She actively participated as a witch when the troupe performed at the Governor’s mansion at the request of Gov. Pete DuPont and Mrs. DuPont. The Children’s Repertory Theatre evolved to become the well-known Delaware Children’s Theatre where she served on the Board of Directors. The E52 Players, which became the Chapel Street Players, saw Fay doing make-up, costumes, props, and tickets. She received the Marion Kusher Award for her work with this group. In 1979, she became involved with the Prison Fellowship Ministries (PFM), founded by Charles W. “Chuck” Colson in 1976, an organization that works with inmates, ex-offenders, youthful offenders, victims, and their families. For many years, she served as Volunteer State Coordinator for Delaware and Cecil County, MD and had received national awards from this group for her work. She semi-retired in July of 2001 but remained active as a consultant and worked with inmate families. In 1981, Fay became one of the first volunteers at Family Court for a new program to help abused, dependent, neglected children. For 11 years, she volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). She served on the Delaware Center for Justice Board of Directors for 10 years, and in June 2001, she received the William A. Vrooman “Exemplar of Justice” Award for outstanding work with the organization. In 2001, she established her own tax exempt, non-profit, 501-C-3 company, Prison Ministries of Delaware, Inc., in order to find funds for a Chapel at Baylor Womens Correctional Institution. She had been seeking a chapel for the residents of Baylor since 1990-91. Her efforts finally paid off and the chapel/multi-purpose building was constructed and opened in November 2008. The Emergency Fund helps inmates, ex-offenders, youthful offenders, victims and their respective families. The chapel at Baylor was named after Norman and Fay Whittle. Fay had been actively involved in the United Methodist Church at the local, district, and conference levels. In 1995, she received the highest award the United Methodist Church gives to a lay person – the Denman Evangelism Award. Fay has also been actively involved with Church Women United for many years. Aldersgate UMC had 75 members when Fay and Norman joined in 1954 with Dr. Gerald Foster as the pastor. Fay was active as a pre-school teacher, Sunday school teacher, and in the United Methodist Women. They lived in McDaniel Crest for 11 years before moving to Fairfield in Newark in 1965. Here they joined Newark UMC where they became actively involved in the church activities. They became members of Peniel UMC in 1995 and were actively involved in the life of the church. In addition to her parents, Fay was preceded in death by her husband, Norman, who passed in December 2006; and brother. She is survived by her sons, Dr. Christopher Henry, born in 1959, and Jeffrey Wallace (Denise K.), born in 1961; 6 grandchildren, Jennifer Anne, Jeffrey Arthur, Jessica Erin, Jaclynn Marie, Juliet Anne, and Elliot Parker; sister, Loretta Goodwin who lives in Greenfield, NH; niece, Heidi Fay Flagg (Terr) and their 2 children, Justin and Alisha; nephew, Richard Goodwin, and his daughter, Anna Liese, who also live in Greenfield; sister-in-law, Pauline Maddy, and her 7 children who live in Pembroke, MA; great-granddaughter, Quinn Grace Fryberger; and great-grandsons, Philly and Cason. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at Peniel United Methodist Church, 115 E. Market Street, Newport, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 11 am. Interment will follow in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE.

Fay Whittle

June 18, 1928 - July 6, 2025