Erna (Beckmann) Whitfield

Erna (Beckmann) Whitfield, wife of Emmett “Wheat” Whitfield, was born on September 13, 1927, to Robert Jansen Beckman and Ella Marie (Braun) Beckmann.

She passed away peacefully January 4, 2024 in the loving care of Trinity Care Center and Hospice Austin staff.

Erna was born and raised in Weir, Texas, attending grade school and working fields, she later lived in Austin briefly, working in a camera shop. She settled in Georgetown, where she met and married Emmett McLaughlin Whitfield, Jr. They celebrated sixty years of marriage in 2009. She loved and was loved by her family, her church and many friends. She had many jobs over the years: Roth’s Bakery, Cloud’s Grocery, Avon representative, bookkeeping for Henderson’s and assembly for Tellabs. She loved nature, gardening, fishing, music and dancing. She studied art and painted many lovely pictures. She and Wheat were square dancers with the Promenaders Club, making many long-term friends with whom they enjoyed traveling.

Erna is preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Emil and wife Elouise, Arnold and wives Ester and Lainey and Raymond and wives Pat and Jolene; her sisters Nora Cloud and husband Eddie, Dora Ursery and husband Buell, and Ruby Skoog and husband Kermit; her daughter Deborah Branum and husband Mike; Erna’s husband Wheat in 2009; her brothers-in-law Stanley and wife Shirley, Ramon, and Jimmy; her sister-in-law Thelma Nelson and husband Ray.

She is survived by her son Steve and wife Jessica; her grandchildren Robert Whitfield and wife Summer, Scott Branum, and Stacy Branum; her brother-in-law Pinckney Whitfield; and a multitude of nieces and nephews.

There will be a visitation on Friday, January 12 from 6-8 p.m. at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel in Georgetown. Erna’s funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 13 at 11 a.m. at the Georgetown Church of the Nazarene, 4051 East University Avenue, Georgetown, Texas, 78626. Further information can be found at www.gabrielsfuneral.com.