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Freddie Lewis Wheatley, Jr. of Tangier Island, VA passed away on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at VCU Medical Center in Richmond, VA.
Born on Tangier Island on August 23, 1954, he was the son of the late Freddie L. Wheatley, Sr. and Henrietta Charnock Wheatley.
Freddie was a 1972 graduate of Tangier Combined School and worked as a Waterman. He was an extremely hard worker and loved being a Waterman; he started working on the water when he was in the fourth grade. His passion was crab dredging but he also enjoyed crab potting and oystering in the winter with Tracy Moore.
An avid sports fan, he enjoyed watching and rooting for the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, and the Washington Redskins (Commanders). He loved eating sweets and visiting his family on Sunday mornings.
He was a wonderful “Poppop” who loved to tease but also enjoyed spending time with them and taking them on the boat. He also always had his faithful pet dog companion, “Minnie” wherever he went. Freddie was a very well-known and generous man. He knew no stranger and would help anyone who needed it.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Cynthia Smarr Wheatley; daughter, Jenny Dise and husband Dan; three grandchildren, Alyssa McCready and husband Isaiah, and their two children Evan and Roman McCready, Castella “Cassie” Dise, and Daniel Dise; brothers-in-law, Bryan “Spanky” King and Larry Parks; sister-in-law, Lisa Pusey; and several nieces and nephews.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Heather Wheatley Dise; sister, Sandra Wheatley King; mothers-in-law, Docia Pruitt Smarr and Patty Parks; father-in-law, Grover Smarr; sister-in-law, Donna Parks; and brothers-in-law, Grover “Butch” Smarr and Ernest Ed Parks.
A memorial service was held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 2 PM at the Swain Memorial Church on Tangier, where sharing was from 1-2 PM. Rev. Charles “Chuck” Parks officiated and speakers were Dan Dise and Elder Duane Crockett.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent to the Tangier Fire Department, Tangier, VA 23440.
Arrangements were in the care of Bradshaw & Sons Funeral Home in Crisfield, MD. To send condolences, please visit www.bradshawandsonsfuneralhome.com
