Obituaries | Week of August 24, 2026
CHARLES WILEY WHATLEY
FEB. 2, 1945
AUG. 24, 2026
Charles Wiley Whatley, 81, died on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in Opelika.
Yeah, we know. It’s not what he would’ve wanted either. But do you wanna hear about a life well-lived?
Charles was the sixth generation of his family to operate a farm in the Beauregard community. At its largest, Willow Run Farm consisted of 1,100 head of dairy cattle on 2,000 acres of land along the banks of Chewacla Creek, and was the largest dairy farm in the southern United States.
He continued farming at his home in Beauregard in his three acre “garden” where he had something growing no matter the season–and if you’re reading this, he probably gave you smoked pork shoulder at some point.
He served for six years in the United States Army Reserves.
He was a proud member of the Opelika Kiwanis Club for over 50 years, serving as president for one year.
In 1973, Charles was selected by the Rotary Club to travel to India as part of an agricultural outreach delegation to the Andhra Pradesh region.
He was elected to and proud to serve in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1974 to 1982, representing Lee, Barbour and Russell counties.
In 2012, 2016, and 2020, he reignited his political activity when he served as a delegate to the Republican National Conventions.
He could regularly be found in erudite circles like the Opelika Cowboys, the Thinking Man’s Book Club and the ROMEO group.
His body is on its way to Mobile as an anatomical gift to the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, so you don’t get to come to a funeral and cry over it — our sincerest apologies if that’s something you were looking forward to doing. But, if you want to join us in celebrating his life, please come to Community Self Storage at 5008 Alabama Highway 51, in Beauregard from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29. All those who want to remember him are welcome.
His legacy will live on in his wife, Ann McKee Whatley; his children, Thomas McKee Whatley, Andrew Terry Whatley and Virginia Whatley Uhlig; their spouses, Lauren Cross Whatley, Allison Mary Deneen and Daniel Vincent Uhlig; his grandchildren, Henry Charles Uhlig, Peter Edward Uhlig and Laurel Addyson Whatley; and in every two dollar bill, balloon or coin he gave to a stranger or a friend.
By the way, none of the people listed above really need flowers. If you’d like to remember Charles, here are some organizations that were important to him that could use your support:
• The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
• The Auburn Salvation Army
• The Auburn University Water Polo Club
