Hicks Mortuary is announcing funeral service for Mr. James Lee Whitsey “Sunny Man” (68) of Center, Texas. James passed away at Focus Care Nursing Facility on Monday, June 12, 2023. James was born to the late Mary Whitsey Gardner and James L. Gardner in Galveston, Texas on August 26, 1954. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God in Christ. Bishop Howard Cloudy Sr. will be officiating.

Sunny Man worked at Tyson and Holly Farms for more than 20 years. He was a hard-working man, and never missed a day of work in all those years. He also worked by helping different people in the neighborhoods and the community.

Sunny Man was survived by: Sunny Man was united in marriage to Beverly Horton in 1980. To this union a daughter was born, Flessia Ann Whitsey (Zachary Collins). Flessia and Zachary are the parents of two (2) daughters, Zamaya, and ZaKala Collins. They all reside in Houston, Texas. Sunny Man also had another daughter, Crystal Benton who is the daughter of Ann Benton. Crystal has three (3) sons, JaChristopher, KeJuan and JaBryson. They all reside in Dallas, Texas. Brothers: Junior C Whitsey, James Lowe, Samuel Gardner, Lamillican Johnson (Keisha) , Tristan Gardner; Renard Gardner; Mark Hubbard; and Eshawn Randle Sisters: Sherian Daniels of Nacogdoches, Texas; Joann Batist (Milton) of Houston, Texas; Annie Whitsey Watts (Maurice) of San Augustine; Sabrina Williams of Beaumont, Texas; Felisha Gardner of Center, Texas; Bonnie Hubbard, and Brenda Johnson of Nacogdoches, Texas A special Sister-in-law: Delories Johnson of Center, Texas Uncle: Lucky (Wilda) Gardner of Center, Texas Aunt: Betty (John) Sanders of Center, Texas Visitation: Friday, June 16, 2023, at Hicks Memorial Chapel from the hours of 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Committal: Westview Cemetery Service entrusted to Hicks Mortuary 804 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Center, Texas 75935 Please visit our website for online condolences at www.hicksmortuary.net