Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

It will soon be a year since Rex Allen Whitehead died. Whitehead of Roan Mountain died August 31, 2023, at the age of 58. His legacy of kindness and love still lives on with family and friends.

His sister, Karen Largent described Rex as a “simple man” who was very kind-hearted and giving. He loved his dogs and enjoyed fishing. “He loved all animals, including his chickens,” said Karen.

Rex’s obituary described him as a person “who loved everyone, and everyone loved him.”  Karen said her brother was the youngest of 10 children and was doted on by his mother and his older brothers and sisters. “He perhaps was spoiled a little, but he had such kind ways, it was hard not to,” said Karen, who still grieves Rex’s death a year later.

In his earlier day, he worked as a roofer, but more recently had helped his daughter, Georgia Mae with her cleaning business.

“Rex was simple. He never wanted anything. He was very content. He didn’t have a lot on this earth, but he had more than most people. He had a family who loved him and a host of friends. Rex was very kind and loving to everyone,” shared Karen.

She noted that her younger brother could be the life of the party and was a load of fun.

Rex was raised by his grandparents, and enjoyed being around older people. “He was just like one of my children. I talked to him every day on the phone,” said Karen.

She shared that her brother was a simple person, who enjoyed watching old westerns on television, but spent a lot of time outside with his critters and enjoying nature. “He wasn’t a fast food person. His meals were simple, his favorite being soupbeans, cornbread, and mustard greens,” Karen recounted.

“My brother was a very humble person. He never laid up any treasures here on earth for himself, hopefully, his  treasures are in heaven. He didn’t have any material things. He lived in our parents’ house,” Karen said.

She noted that Rex loved holidays, especially Christmas and Halloween and enjoyed trick or treating with her daughter, when she was young.

Rex died after suffering a massive heart attack. He was laid to rest in the Whitehead Cemetery, which is located on family property.

He was the first of his brothers and sisters to die. He was preceded in death by his parents, Steward and Georgia Townsend Whitehead, and a granddaughter, Brianna Whitehead Clawson.

Rex Whitehead could easily claim the words of St. Francis of Assisi: “ I am as I am in the eyes of God. Nothing More. Nothing less.”

I like to think every person is a person of value, regardless of their lot in life. Rex Whitehead never had a college degree, no job of distinction, but rather his life was measured by how many souls he touched, the smiles he painted on people’s faces, the daisies he picked, and the many nights he looked in the sky and tried to count all the stars. Ultimately, our value is not determined by what we have and the titles we acquire, but the many times we positively affect the people around us.

Rex Whitehead never had much materially in this life, but he certainly made a lot of people smile.