Yvette Angel Blanche (Marquilly) Whitmire

Yvette Angel Blanche Marquilly Whitmire, age 94, of Sanford, NC, died Thursday, March 19, 2020 at her home surrounded by her family.

She was born in Merville, France on February 20, 1926 to the late Rene August Desire Marquilly and Clemence Louise Joseph Revellion.

Raised in a Catholic orphanage pre-WWII, she lived with her father and siblings until a bomb hit her home killing her father.  After treatment and being released by the Red Cross, she lived with her mother until she married her first husband – an American soldier, William Sherman Gwyn, Sr. on February 15, 1946.  The United States military shipped war brides to the US on the SS Cristobal.  She arrived in New York on June 4, 1946 along with her four month old daughter.

During her years in the United States she held factory jobs at Carthage Fabrics, Cornell-Dubilier, Federal Spinning, Carter Webber, Magneti Marelli, Pentair Pools, as well as cleaning houses.  She was also a homemaker and mother to seven children.

She was preceded in death by two husbands, Felton Foy Chandler and James Marvin Whitmire.  Three children with William Sherman; Gwyn, Jr., Ricky Joe Gwyn, Annette Gwyn Powers Esparza.

Surviving are her children; Marie Bolick of Hickory, NC, Richard “Ricky Joseph Gwyn of Sanford, NC, Murnice Felton Chandler and wife Sonia of Sanford, NC, Michele Chandler Barber and husband Ronnie of Topsoil Island, NC; 18 grandchildren, 41 Great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Sunday, March 22, 2020 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Calvary Missionary Methodist Church. The funeral service will follow at 4:00 PM with Pastor Curtis Norris Officiating.  Burial will follow at Grace Chapel Church Cemetery.

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