Ida Faye Hinton

Ms. Ida Faye Whitley O’Neal Hinton daughter of the late William Luther Whitley Sr. and Annie Bell Staggers Whitley, was born on August 23, 1946 in Johnston County, NC. She departed this life on December 01, 2020 at Hillcrest Convalescent Center, Raleigh, NC. She attended Johnston County Public Schools and graduated from William Mason Cooper High School, Clayton NC in 1964. She joined Lincoln Park Holiness Church under the direction of Bishop Eli Ratcliff Jr., and sang with the Senior Choir until her health declined. She loved her church family and church. She also loved her family and friends. If you ever needed a place to stay for a while or a meal, her house was the place to go. Her mother passed away the month that Ida Faye turned 21 and she immediately took custody of her three younger siblings. Over the years she gained custody of a niece and nephew, that she raised along with her own daughter. She always joked that she gave birth to one child but she raised a dozen. She worked in food service for most of her working years. Scottys in Crabtree Valley, the Municipal Building downtown Raleigh, were she became friends with several Raleigh Police Officers. After she left the police department she worked in a daycare center feeding the little children. She called the children there her babies. Ida Faye will be remembered for her beautiful voice. She was a member of the gospel group known as the Gospelettes from Wendell, NC for 10 years. They travelled and sang as far away as Washington, DC. After she left the Gospelettes she joined the Pearls and Pearlettes of Raleigh, NC and was a member of this group for more than 40 years. During her time with the Pearls and Pearlettes she was known as the lady that took her shoes off and sang barefoot. She sang on programs with gospel music legends, such as the late Willie Neal Johnson & The Gospel Keynotes, Tommy Ellison & The Five Singing Stars, Joe Ligon and The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Slim Hunt & The Supreme Angels, Maggie Ingram & the Ingramettes to name a few. She travelled all over, North, South, and East and West singing Gods praises, touching and saving souls. It was nothing for the Pearls and Pearlettes to have a program on Saturday night, go to Church on Sunday, leave church after morning service and sing on 2 or 3 programs. On the days that they had 2 or more programs, Faye and Jolene would fry chicken and prepare a few sides with a cooler full of water and sodas for everyone to eat while on the road. She also loved to sew so Faye and Jolene would make all the dresses for the ladies in the group. She was preceded in death by a sister, Annie Pearl Whitley Adams and a brother, Allen Owen Whitley. She leaves to cherish her memories, daughter: Yvonna Faye Whitley-Bryant (Delmos) of Raleigh NC, Two grandsons: Jesse Whitley of Fayetteville NC and Daquan Whitley of Raleigh, NC. One granddaughter: Belinda Bryant of Raleigh NC. Two great grandsons: Amir Bryant and Dasir Bryant. One great grand daughter: Aspen Whitley. One sister: Shirley Whitley Parker, Two brothers: William Whitley Jr and David Lee Whitley, all of Raleigh, NC, One sister-in-law: Regina Lunsford-Whitley She has four nieces, Barbara, LaTonya, LaToya, and Jamonica, five nephews, Phillip, Craig, Lance, Corey and David Jr. One nephew, Dereak proceeded her in death. She has a host of other family members and friends that will miss her dearly.