Essie Lee Porter Whitmire, 94, formerly of 173 Orchard Park Drive, Greenwood, widow of T. M. Whitmire, died Sunday, January 21, 2018 at NHC of Greenwood.

Born in Pickens, she was a daughter of the late John Walter Porter and Jesse Lee Meadows Porter. Mrs. Whitmire retired from Greenwood Mills and was a member of Lupo United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by a son, Jimmy Whitmire; two sisters, Louise Porter and Frances Collins and three brothers, Buddy Porter, Jerry Porter and James Porter.
Surviving are four sons, John Whitmire (Cynthia), Tommy Whitmire (Pat), both of Greenwood, Dan Whitmire (Faye) of Augusta and Bill Whitmire (Nancy) of Florence; five sisters, Ann Mitchum of Greenwood, Alice Turner of Easley, Margaret Cochran of Anderson, Betty Dorsey and Lilly Mae Merck, both of Liberty; a brother, Carl Porter of Pickens; eight grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.

Services will be held at 2 pm on Wednesday at Harley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Steven Evans officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Tracy Whitmire, Wesley Whitmire, Walter Whitmire, Adam Vanloan, Randel Merk, Greg Thompson, Dennis Porter, Terry "Tot" Collins, David Merritt and Kevin Bishop.

The family will receive friends before the service at the funeral home from 1 to 2 pm.

The family is at the home.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 West Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.