Justine "Tootie" Whitelow, 57, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, July 2, in her home. Justine leaves behind her wife Jennifer (Carroll) Whitelow, daughter Jenelle Whitelow, son Justin Whitelow, her Grandfather Oscar and Grandmother Janice Whitelow, five sisters Sophia Taylor, Toni Snipes, Jewell Snipes, Cassandra Snipes, and Jenae Mathews. Nieces/Nephews Nia Neylon, Emmarya Gray, Amari Ash, Aniya Ortiz, Geionna Ortiz, Britney Taylor, Angela Taylor, Jheremy Snipes (deceased), Dariyonte Brown, and Corteriyon Gray. Great Nieces/Nephews Marckell Taylor (deceased), Amariyana Neylon, Avanti Nelson, Averi Nelson, Alivia Nelson and a host of dear family and friends.
Justine was born in Tennessee and spent the earliest years of her life in Fort Wayne, IN being nurtured by her Grandmother Mama Dee and Grandfather Oscar Whitelow. Justine grew up in Decatur, IL, the eldest of six sisters. As a girl, Justine loved quiet moments watching the clouds go by, reading, and eating potato chips. She also was a Girl Scout. Justine was an active member of The Church of Living God P.G.T Temple #2 and United Fellowship Church in Decatur, IL. Justine relied heavily on her faith to see her through. She has also lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Lansing, Michigan.
Justine has spent the last 20 years of her life back in Fort Wayne, IN. Justine met and fell in love with Jennifer (Carroll) Whitelow in 2004. In 2006, Justine and Jennifer had a union ceremony at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Wayne, of which they were members. Justine and Jennifer went on to become foster parents through The Villages and welcomed numerous youths into their home. Justine introduced Jennifer to Nichiren Buddism and became members of the Sokka Gakkai International organization in 2008, actively practicing for many years. In 2013, Justine and Jennifer drove to Iowa with their 2 little ones and became legally married according to the United States. Later that year, they adopted Jenelle and Justin to become a family of four. In 2014 the state of Indiana finally recognized their legal marriage as well. A reluctant public activist, Justine's private life stood as an example of living activism toward a more just, tolerant, peaceful, and loving community.
In the last 5 or 6 years of her life, Justine reclaimed her Christian roots and attended Northeast Christian Church for a time with her children.
She loved Kirk Franklin gospel music, modern country music, Cubs baseball, the color blue, reading Amish romance novels, poetry, writing, cooking, doing puzzles with daughter Jenelle, "toodling" around with her twin (son Justin), vegetable gardening, observing people, and watching Maury, The Big Bang Theory, and Young Sheldon.
Justine worked as a Pharmacy Technician Specialist in the Anti-coagulation Clinic at the VA Hospital in Fort Wayne from 2005- 2022. She graduated from Indiana Wesleyan with her Bachelor's Degree in Human Resource and Business Management in 2011. Justine went on to accomplish a life-long dream by working through a Transition to Teaching Program to get an emergency teaching certificate in 2022. This allowed her to be hired by Fort Wayne Community Schools as a sixth grade English teacher at Lane Middle School. The following year she taught Creative Writing, History, Read 180, and managed the school's library! Justine looked forward to her 3rd year with her Lane MS family for 2024-2025 as the Creative Writing teacher.
Justine spent her life caring and nurturing others, helping them strive to their greatest potential, often to the expense of herself. Her loving and selfless nature, wit, sweetness, and no-nonsense speaking endeared her to many. Preceding her in death are her Grandmother Justine (Owens) Whitelow, Mother Emma (Whitelow) Snipes, Stepfather Bennie Snipes, Aunt Bobbie (Whitelow) Mathews, Uncle Oscar Whitelow, Mother-in-Law Sue Hauck, Aunt Dorothy Durr, and Nephews Jheremy Snipes and Marckell Taylor. Donations may be made in Trust for Jenelle or to Justin's Indiana 529 college fund. A funeral service for Justine will be held on Wednesday July 17, 2024 at 11 am with visitation one hour prior. A visitation will also be held on Tuesday July 16, 2024 from 4-8 pm all at FairHaven Funeral Home 6557 N Clinton St, Fort Wayne, IN 46825.