Kimberly Dawn (Whitaker) Wittig

Surrounded by her loving family, Kimberly (Kim) Dawn Coker Whitaker Wittig transitioned to her heavenly home on August 29, 2023 after a valiant battle with cancer. She was 51 years old.

Born on December 7, 1971 and raised in Tarboro, NC, Kim graduated from Tarboro High School in 1990. She received the prestigious NC Teaching Fellows Scholarship, enabling her to attend NC State University to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree and become a teacher. Graduating from NCSU in 1994, Kim taught chemistry and physics to high school students at Bear Grass High School and North Edgecombe High School. She also coached high school cheerleading and softball.

In 2000, Kim moved from the role of classroom teacher to become the first Fire and Life Safety Educator for the Rocky Mount (NC) Fire Department. In this capacity, Kim taught and coordinated injury-prevention programs throughout the city of Rocky Mount for seventeen years.  In 2002, she received the Award of Excellence from the NC Fire and Life Safety Education Association, and was recognized in 2012 by the NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program as the Child Passenger Safety Instructor of the Year.

Breaking professional barriers within the RMFD, Kim earned the rank of captain in 2017, the first woman to ever accomplish this. In March of 2023, Kim broke another barrier when she was named Interim Assistant Chief of Administration and Planning. Sharing thoughts on her professional accomplishments, Kim noted, “I am truly honored that senior staff and city management have given me this opportunity to serve in a chief officer role for our department. The twenty-three years I have spent in this organization have been filled with several firsts, and while I’m proud to have accomplished those and paved the way for other females in our organization, each of those firsts has not been about me.”

Outside of her professional life, Kim dedicated 20 years of leadership to the Edgecombe County Distinguished Young Women’s program, serving as its co-chairwoman since 2013. In this capacity, Kim was a role model for countless young women, enabling them to work toward the best version of themselves through participation in the DYW program.

Kim was a lifelong Wolfpack fan and a loving, joyful Christian. She had an eye for fashion and a flair for decorating. She brought happiness with her wherever she went, and she left people better after being in her presence. All who knew her knew how much she loved them.

Kim is survived by her husband of twenty-five years, Michael, her son, Tanner, her daughter, Avery, and her “bonus daughter,” Anna-Kate White, as well as her parents (Gene Coker, Sharon Whitaker, Cecil Whitaker), her step-mother (Brenda Coker), her sisters (Alison Taylor and husband Danny & Lindsey Whitaker), her step-sister and husband (Jennifer Joyner and Randy Joyner) her mother-in-law (Carol Wittig), brother-in-law (Ryan Wittig), sister-in-law and husband (Erica Knightstep and Glen), and nephews (Hayden Whitaker, Mason Taylor, Brenden Whitaker, and John Wittig). Uncle Russell and Aunt Linda and myriad aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends survive her as well, too numerous to name but dearly loved by Kim.

A visitation will be held at Carlisle Funeral Home on Sunday, September 3 from 6:00-8:00PM.  A memorial service, officiated by Rev. Phil Kiecker, will be held at Edgecombe Community College’s Keihin Auditorium on Monday, September 4 at 2:00. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the John Sykes Scholarship Fund, c/o the Rocky Mount Fire Department. Checks should include “Capt. Wittig” on the memo line.

Kim would remind us of Psalm 33:20, “We put our hope in the Lord.  He is our help and our shield.” The family puts its hope there, and is grateful for your love and support during this time.