Whitney was a wonderful person and I feel thankful to have crossed paths with her, even virtually. She was bright, funny, and authentic - genuinely such a light to all of those around her.

My deepest condolences to Britt and Jax. I hope your loving memories help to carry you through this time.

Whitney represents New York,  Brooklyn, Tennessee, Tri-Cities, Elizabethton, family and friends. 

New York holds a special place for her, Tennessee,  Elizabethton holds her heart and legacy.

Diverse, cosmopolitan, continuous, rugged, eloquent, bridging the mountains with the valleys and rivers. Can be difficult to cross, and would embrace you during the journey.

below is an excerpt:

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry

By Walt Whitman

9

Flow on, river! flow with the flood-tide, and ebb with the ebb-tide!

Frolic on, crested and scallop-edg’d waves!

Gorgeous clouds of the sunset! drench with your splendor me, or the men and women generations after me!

Cross from shore to shore, countless crowds of passengers!

Stand up, tall masts of Mannahatta! stand up, beautiful hills of Brooklyn!

Throb, baffled and curious brain! throw out questions and answers!

Suspend here and everywhere, eternal float of solution!

Gaze, loving and thirsting eyes, in the house or street or public assembly!

Sound out, voices of young men! loudly and musically call me by my nighest name!

Live, old life! play the part that looks back on the actor or actress!

Play the old role, the role that is great or small according as one makes it!

Consider, you who peruse me, whether I may not in unknown ways be looking upon you;

Be firm, rail over the river, to support those who lean idly, yet haste with the hasting current;

Fly on, sea-birds! fly sideways, or wheel in large circles high in the air;

Receive the summer sky, you water, and faithfully hold it till all downcast eyes have time to take it from you!

Diverge, fine spokes of light, from the shape of my head, or any one’s head, in the sunlit water!

Come on, ships from the lower bay! pass up or down, white-sail’d schooners, sloops, lighters!

Flaunt away, flags of all nations! be duly lower’d at sunset!

Burn high your fires, foundry chimneys! cast black shadows at nightfall! cast red and yellow light over the tops of the houses!

Appearances, now or henceforth, indicate what you are,

You necessary film, continue to envelop the soul,

About my body for me, and your body for you, be hung out divinest aromas,

Thrive, cities—bring your freight, bring your shows, ample and sufficient rivers,

Expand, being than which none else is perhaps more spiritual,

Keep your places, objects than which none else is more lasting.

You have waited, you always wait, you dumb, beautiful ministers,

We receive you with free sense at last, and are insatiate henceforward,

Not you any more shall be able to foil us, or withhold yourselves from us,

We use you, and do not cast you aside—we plant you permanently within us,

We fathom you not—we love you—there is perfection in you also,

You furnish your parts toward eternity,

Great or small, you furnish your parts toward the soul.

Whit was one of those rare people who made just about everything better. She was annoyingly smart and strategic (playing chess not checkers), wise beyond her years, and someone I trusted deeply – whether I needed advice, perspective, or just someone to be real with me. She had this perfect mix of humor and honesty that made you feel both grounded and understood.

Whit named our public affairs team group text “Golan Delight” after that terrible wine we had… long story but if you know, you know. She made our team better in every possible way; the space she left cannot be filled and we feel her absence every day.

Whit took care of us (even sharing her cheddar rounds with me when I had already eaten all of mine). But when it came to traveling… all bets were off. Traveling to New York, Nashville – it didn’t matter… asking her “Do you have your wallet? Keys? Phone? Badge?” became my mantra because we were always looking for them. It was always something our team joked about… leave it to Whitney.

I will always treasure the time I got to go to Disney with Whit, Britt, and Jax! Disney of course is magical and there’s so many big moments… but what I remember most are the in-between and small moments – the standing in line, sharing snacks, joking around – the laughter, the ease, the unmistakable bond the three of them shared. It was such a gift to witness their love up close. Whit loved Britt and Jax more than anything… they were her whole world – it was evident in every story she shared and every moment I spent with them. She was so proud of Jax and loved being his mom. And Britt, it was obvious to see that she was Whit’s perfect partner in life & parenthood and Whit's soulmate.

 Winnie the Pooh said it well... "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." Whit is so loved and so missed; we are all better for having known her.