Obituary: Paula Langley Wilhite
Paula Langley Wilhite, 65, of Bolivar, passed away on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. She was born on July 1, 1960, in Lauderdale County to Mildred Evangeline Bradford Langley and Curtis Voss Langley and attended schools in Ripley, Bolivar and Alcoa.
Paula was a graduate of Alcoa High School and Draughons Business College and began working at Bagwell and Associates after graduation. A chance encounter in Knoxville, TN with a former first love from her elementary school days in Bolivar brought about a marriage that lasted nearly 42 years to Harold Wilhite. After they married in November of 1984, Paula worked for the Bolivar Police Department as the administrative assistant to the chief of police and as a city court clerk for 36 years and retired in 2020.
Paula was a member of Bolivar First Methodist Church where she served on a variety of committees, taught Sunday school and was part of the Bolivar Methodist Women’s group. She was also a member of APTA and DAR, organizations that furthered her love for history and genealogy. She was happiest when surrounded by family and was both the Langley and the Wilhite families’ most reliable source for stories, records and knowledge of family trees. Paula loved many things in life – a good book, antiquities, her many friends, gardening, and family gatherings. But her greatest loves were her Harold, her children and her grandchildren. Being Mimi to Emmett, Wallace, Evangeline, and Hank brought such joy to Paula’s life and it was a role she relished until the very end of her life.
Paula was known for her kindness, warmth and dedication to those she loved. She never met a stranger and loved engaging others in conversation. Paula’s love language was giving gifts and showering grandchildren with surprises. Despite a debilitating illness, she faced each day with grace and rarely complained. Paula is survived by her husband, Harold, her daughter Emma Scott (Austin), and her son Henry and four grandchildren, Wallace Scott, Emmett Scott, Evangeline Scott, and Hank Wilhite. She is also survived by her brothers, Curt Langley (Sharon) and Shannon Langley, brothers and sisters in law, Rick (Judy), Larry (Teresa), Jerry (Carla), and Frank (Christy) Wilhite and a host of nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her father and mother in law, Richard and Sally Wilhite, and a nephew, Richard Wilhite III.
Memorials may be sent to Bolivar First Methodist Church Ramp Ministry or Pkdcure.org/give
Courtesy of Shackelford Funeral Directors, Bolivar, Tennessee.
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