Jenkins, KY – Nova Nell (Lemaster) Whitaker, 83, went to be with Jesus on Friday, June 5, 2026. It was unexpected to everyone who loved her, but Jesus knew it was time for her to come home.

Nova was a Christian and a member of the Burdine Church of God of Prophecy where she joined in 1967. She held all but one leadership position during the last 59 years.

She was known by many names to the ones she loved: Mommy, Munna, Ma, Grandma, Granny, Sister, Best Friend, Noralee Campbell, and Aunt; she answered to them all.

Her favorite things were going to church, being with her sweet church friends, sweeping, doing laundry, having yard sales, watching babies laugh on Facebook, and decorating for every seasonal holiday.

Nova and her husband, Sherman, were successful business owners in Jenkins for several decades, having both Sherman's Coins and Supply and the Jenkins Furniture Store.

Nova was the toughest lady ever. She suffered the loss of her husband and her only son; her home was destroyed by the 2022 flood; health problems plagued her (breaking both hips, her ankle, upper arm, pelvis, and ribs, a heart TAVR, and had skin cancer treated or removed many times). She trusted God to help her through it all. Each day, she would thank God for another day quoting the Bible verse "His mercies are new every morning." She prayed for the Lord to keep her mind sound.

Nova was preceded in death by her husband, Sherman Whitaker; a son, Arner Whitaker; and her parents, Virgil and Grace (Combs) Lemaster. Survivors include her two daughters, Nova Eyvonna Greene (Neal), grandson, Caleb, all of Pound, VA; and Beth Brown and grandchildren Tyler, Tarah, and Oliver, all of Mt. Carmel, TN. In addition, Arner's (Pam) children Charity, Joshua, and Seth, all of Jenkins, KY. All together, she had seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and one great, great grandchild. She has two special family members, Fran Loudin and Randy Hampton, both of Ohio.

Funeral services will be conducted at 12 noon Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Burdine Church of God of Prophecy, Burdine, KY, with Pastor Frank Hall officiating. Burial will follow in the Potter Cemetery, Jenkins, KY with Caleb Greene, Joshua Whitaker, Seth Whitaker, Colton Fields, Dalton Cable, Justin Cantrell, Logan Cantrell, and Allen Bormes as pallbearers. Serving as Honorary pallbearers will be Neal Greene, Tyler Brown, Alfred Belcher, and Jackson Belcher.

Visitation will begin at 5:30 on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at the Burdine Church of God of Prophecy, Burdine, KY with an evening service at 7:00 pm.

A message from her daughters:  "You were the best mommy ever!  We will never be the same and will miss you every day."

Baker Funeral Home, Pound, VA is serving the family of Nova Nell (Lemaster) Whitaker.