Jennifer Adcock Whiting, 67, died unexpectedly September 3, 2022, at home. She was born November 2, 1954, in Wilmington, the first daughter of the late William F., Jr and Alma Whitley Adcock.
Jenni graduated from John T Hoggard High School, Class of 1973. After high school she attended East Carolina University receiving a BA in Music Education in 1978. She later attended UNC Greensboro earning her Master of Music Therapy degree.
Jenni began studying music with piano lessons at the age of six. Starting with flute in sixth grade, Jenni’s love of music became the guiding force for most of her life. She became an elementary music teacher and retired after more than 30 years in
classrooms in Brunswick County, New Hanover County and Fairfax County, VA.
She was a member of the Wilmington Symphony for 25 years. She performed in pit
orchestras for Opera House and the Thalian Association. Not satisfied with being an
accompanist, she also performed in both dramatic and musical theater. Most notably she performed in Wilmington’s amateur theater scene in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” “A Chorus Line,” and “La Cage aux Folles.” Her theatrical career ended with the adoption of her daughters, April and Jennifer, in 2001.
After retiring from teaching and as the wife of the Commanding Officer of the NROTC unit at the University of Nebraska Lincoln from 2009 to 2013, she founded and led a Military Spouses Club for the Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Air Force ROTC instructors and married students. Her leadership and affection for this group brought
a sense of unity and comradery that enhanced the lives of many.
Introduced to vacation cruising by her Navy Officer husband on their honeymoon in 1997, Jenni became enamored of cruising and went on 17 others (Royal Caribbean was the favorite line by far) as well as vacationing in Mexico south of Cancun at the El Dorado Royale Resort, for a similar all-inclusive experience. Vacationing with her husband allowed them to celebrate their marriage with multiple honeymoons. Her last cruise in July 2022 included introducing her grandchildren of the home, Johnathan and Serenity, to the excitement and pleasures that she enjoyed so much.
Surviving in addition to her husband Jeffrey B. Whiting, are her two sisters Laura Bashaw and husband Stan of Cary, NC, and Linda Adcock and husband Lee Meadows of Wilmington, NC. She’s also survived by her two daughters, April W. Mercure and husband Christopher of Jacksonville, NC, and Jennifer Ann Whiting and partner
Quadarian T. Kirby of Jacksonville, NC, and a total of 10 grandchildren in North Carolina, Nebraska, and Colorado. She also is survived by 6 nephews and 1 niece and several cousins.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the William F. Adcock, Jr Scholarship (http://giving.uncw.edu/william-adcock) or the Alma W. Adcock Scholarship in Music Education (http://giving.uncw.edu/alma-adcock) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
The funeral service will be held at St Andrews on the Sound Episcopal Church, 101 Airlie Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403 on October 8, 2022, at 1:00 pm. Internment will immediately follow the service at the St Andrews cemetery. Refreshments will be available in the St Andrews’ Parrish Hall afterwards.
