Funeral services for Mrs. Opal Ruth Wilkerson Allwhite, age 96, of Carthage, Texas, will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 3, 2010, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Bob Scott officiating. Interment will follow in Restland Memorial Park near Carthage. The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home. Mrs. Allwhite passed away on Friday morning, April 30, 2010, in Carthage.

Opal Ruth Wilkerson Allwhite was born on March 25, 1914, in Gary, Texas the oldest of nine children born to William Thomas and Ellie Thomas Wilkerson. She went to school in Gary. Mrs. Allwhite married V.L. Allwhite and he preceded her in death. She lived most of her life in Shreveport from 1944-2005, where she owned and operated a beauty shop. She was a member of Parkview Baptist Church in Shreveport and a former member of Friendship Baptist Church near Carthage. Mrs. Allwhite was also preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Vernon Wallace Wilkerson, Royce Wilkerson, and Wilton Wilkerson; and two sisters, Wilma Wilkerson Cope and Grace Nester.

Mrs. Allwhite is survived by two
brothers, Harold L. Wilkerson and wife Margaret of Carthage and Eldon T. Wilkerson and wife Rosemary of Carthage; one sister, Kathleen Wilkerson of Carthage; brother-in-law, Otis Nester of Vivian, Louisiana; and sister-in-law, Helen Wilkerson of Shreveport. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many friends also survive Mrs. Allwhite.

Serving as pallbearers are Kenneth Cope, Karl Cope, Dusty Cope, Phillip Wilkerson, Crisp Wilkerson, and John Bertrand.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are John Albers, Bobby Lamon, Steve Richardson, Sean Lynch, Christopher Cope, and Jeff Colbert.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.