Elizabeth Ann Whitelaw, 9, of Highland County, passed away peacefully in her sleep October, 22, 2018 at University of Virginia Medical Center. She was born February 24, 2009 in Harrisonburg, the daughter of Erica John and Aaron Scott Whitelaw. Elizabeth was our golden child.
She lived her life to the fullest, doing everything at 110% and never met a stranger. She loved learning, spending time outdoors, and was very artistic. When she wasn’t earning straight A’s in school, she could be found exploring the natural world around her.
Often, she would be fishing in the local rivers and ponds with her Daddy. She loved swimming and was so excited to perfect her diving skills. On the rare occasion that it was too cold for Elizabeth to get in the river in New Hampden, she was satisfied to be turning over rocks and looking for crayfish, bugs and snakes.
Elizabeth “Lizard” was an encyclopedia of knowledge about dinosaurs and could quote from every Jurassic Park movie. She loved all animals, especially horses and dreamed of becoming a vet. Elizabeth was a singer and performer, too.
She could tell stories, especially scary stories, like a professional and would often act them out for family and friends; she loved an audience. To put it simply, Elizabeth loved people, from the tiniest baby to her great-grandparents. Wherever she went, she spread joy to those around her.
Her spirit was just too big for her body and she will be remembered as someone who could fill a room with light when she walked in. She was preceded in death by infant brother, Trenton John Warner; maternal great-grandfather, Maurice “PopPop” Woodward; maternal great-grandparents, Barbara Wood and Everett Simmons; paternal great-grandfather, Boyd Wilson Stephenson; paternal great-grandparents, Helen and Heyward “Red” Whitelaw; and special friend and great-uncle, Frank Stephenson. Surviving in addition to her parents is a brother, Andrew Whitelaw of Staunton; sisters, Alyssa Whitelaw of Waynesboro, and Haley and Sadie Warner of Highland County; maternal grandparents, John and Suzanne Simmons of Blue Grass; paternal grandparents, Charlotte Stephenson and Richard Shamrock of Monterey and Ron Whitelaw and friend, Deborah Timberlake of Monterey; maternal great-grandmother, Dolores Woodward of Sparta, NC; paternal great-grandparents Dorothy and Austin Shepherd of Monterey; uncles, Adam Whitelaw of Monterey and Joshua Simmons and wife, Sarah Collins-Simmons of Blue Grass; aunt, Amy Chenard and husband, Bob of Sarasota, FL.
; as well as numerous cousins, great uncles and aunts, extended family and friends that loved her dearly. A celebration of life will be held 3 p.m., Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Obaugh Funeral Home. The family will receive friends beginning two hours prior to the service at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Elizabeth Whitelaw Expense Fund c/o Erica Whitelaw at Pendleton Community Bank, P.O. Box 487, Franklin, WV 26807; Highland Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 268, Monterey, Va. 24465; and Highland County Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 267, Monterey, Va. 24465.
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