During his adult life he went by the name "Joseph William Whitaker" as that was what he had understood from his family. After his passing records from his family said his name was only recorded as "Joe Will Whitaker" by the county doctor.

--Son of William Ben Whitaker and Claude (Claudia) Harrell Whitaker.

--Brother of Ilva Lucille Whitaker Taylor and William Ben Whitaker.

--Husband of Eleanor St. Peters Whitaker whom he married November 18, 1934, in Memphis, Tennessee.

--Father of Annora Jean Whitaker 'Dottie' Morgan and Carole Jean Whitaker McCaig.

--Grandfather of Thomas "Grant" Morgan and Joseph "Clinton" McCaig.

JOE W. WHITAKER, 79, of Memphis, retired employee of Ray Sharp Lumber Co., died Tuesday at Methodist Hospital after a short illness. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Memorial Park Funeral Home with burial in Memorial Park. He was a charter member of Broadmoor Baptist Church. Whitaker, the husband of Eleanor Whitaker, also leaves two daughters, Mrs. Carole McCaig and Mrs. Dottie Morgan, and a sister, Mrs. Ilva 'Sing' Taylor, all of Memphis; a brother, Ben Whitaker of Cherokee Village, Ark., and two grandsons. (Published in The Commercial Appeal 10-16-1991)

From Tennessee Birth Report #2277 173241:

Report made by F.E. Stewart

Enumerator of the First School District of Shelby County

Name of Child - Joe Will Whitaker

Date of Birth - Nov. 9, 1911

Sex - Male

Color - White

Place of Birth - Barretville, Tenn.

Name of Father - Ben W. Whitaker

Place of His Birth - Brunswick, Tenn.

Father's Occupation - Farmer

Name of Mother - Claudia Whitaker

Place of Her Birth - Barretville, Tenn.

Name of Physician - Walter Kelley

Recorded - Thos. B. Crenshaw, County Court Clerk

1920 Census - Kney Street, Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee:

Whitaker, William - Head, M, W, 30, M, born Tenn, father born Tenn, mother born Tenn.

Whitaker, Joe Will - Son, M, W, 8, S, born Tenn

Whitaker, Ilva - Daughter, F, W, 6, S, born Tenn

Whitaker, Ben - Son, M, W, 2 7/12, born Tenn

1930 Census - Manasses, Memphis, Shelby Co, Tennessee:

Whitaker, William B. - Head, M, W, 37, M

Whitaker, Claude H. - Wife, F, W, 36, M

Whitaker, Joe W. - Son, M, W, 18, S

Whitaker, Ilva - Daughter, F, W, 17, S

1950 Census - 3029 Sunrise Road, Frayser, Shelby Co, Tenn:

Whitaker, Joe W. - Head, W, M, 39, M, Carpenter, born Tenn (indexed as "Jee" instead of "Joe" on Family Search)

Whitaker, Eleanor - Wife, W, F, 37, M, born Illinois

Whitaker, Annora J. - Daughter, W, F, 12, S, born Tenn

St. Peters, John L. - Father-in-law, W, M, 60, W, born Illinois

From Social Security records:

Name Joseph William Whitaker

Claim: JOSEPH W WHITAKER (30 Oct 1976)

Application: JOSEPH WILLIAM WHITAKER (22 Nov 1989)

Death: JOSEPH W WHITAKER (15 Oct 1991)

Alias Joseph W Whitaker

Sex Male

Birth Date 9 Nov 1911

Birthplace Shelby Co, Tennessee, United States

Social Program Application Date 22 Nov 1989

Social Program Claim Date 30 Oct 1976

Death Date 15 Oct 1991

Race White

Father's Name William G Whitaker

Father's Sex Male

Mother's Name Claudia Harell

Mother's Sex Female