Katherine Jean Whitehurst, a resident of Severna Park, died at home on March 10th. She was born June 13, 1930 in South Norfolk, VA to Jasper W. Leggett and Susan Katherine Thompson. She was retired from the Norfolk Public Health Department. She moved to Severna Park in 2004 to live with her daughter and her family, and was a member of College Parkway Baptist Church.

In 1956 she was the only female in the first class of graduates to receive a bachelor's degree from what is now Old Dominion University, earning a degree in Medical Technology. In 1977 she earned an MS in Biology from ODU. She was instrumental in organizing the ODU Alumni Association, served on the Alumni Board for 20 years, and received the Alumni Service Award in 1980. She also served on the Board of the Intercollegiate Foundation through which she made many significant contributions to the growth of ODU athletics.

During her college years and beyond she excelled as an athlete in basketball, field hockey, and golf. She was named the "Outstanding Female Athlete" for 1950 at ODU. In 1984 she was enshrined in the ODU Sports Hall of Fame.

She is survived by her daughter, Denise Jean Ratcliffe and her husband, Woody, of Severna Park; grandson Matthew Ratcliffe and his wife, Casey, of Tampa, FL; granddaughter Carolyn Ratcliffe of Portland, OR; and great grandson Thomas Ratcliffe. She was preceded in death by her first husband, William "Buddy" Hollomon, and her second husband, Delbert N. Whitehurst.

Visitation will be held at Barranco and Sons Funeral Home from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM on March 14th. A memorial service will be held at her church at a later date.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Missions Projects Fund of College Parkway Baptist Church, PO Box 859, Arnold, MD 21012 or Hospice of the Chesapeake.