Wesley Whitmore, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was born September 21, 1953, in Ashdown, Arkansas, to Obie and Roberta Whitmore.
Wesley was raised with strong values of community and togetherness. He joined Elizabeth Academy Baptist Church at a young age, where those roots took hold and shaped the man he would become. He graduated from Ashdown High School and later attended the University of Arkansas, majoring in Agriculture — a pursuit that reflected his hardworking, grounded spirit.
Wesley was preceded in death by his beloved parents; three brothers: Onis, William, and Jack; and one sister, Onetta.
In 1982, Wesley married the love of his life, Margie Whitmore. Over 43 blessed years together, they built a life centered around love, family, and fun — a partnership that was the cornerstone of everything he held dear.
Wesley was a man who fed both body and soul. As the proud owner of the beloved Wes’ BBQ/Burger Plus for 40 years — the oldest Black-owned business in Fayetteville — he had a gift for gathering people around the table, much like he gathered them around his heart. He carried a grateful heart and a warm sense of humor that left a lasting impression on everyone he met. He also loved sports and music, and was a fan of the Celtics, the Raiders, and the Arkansas Razorbacks.
He is survived by: his wife, Margie Whitmore; his daughter, Karen Johnson (Dorian); his son, Dewayne Whitmore; his sisters, Beverly Jones (Carlton) of Texarkana, AR, and Bobbie Nash (Eugene) of Fayetteville, AR; his brothers, Otis Whitmore (Bonnie) of Dallas, TX, Roger Whitmore (Rhonda) of Horatio, AR, Obie Whitmore Jr. (Marie), Leslie Whitmore, Robert Whitmore, and Manuel Whitmore (Clarice), all of Fayetteville, AR; his devoted niece, Keisha Newberry (Allen) of Lowell; and his beloved grandchildren, Jevin Johnson, Emerie Johnson, and Zane Johnson.
He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and a host of relatives and friends whose lives were made richer for having known him.
A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Beard’s Funeral Chapel.
A repast will be held immediately following the service at: St James Missionary Baptist Church, 764 W North St, Fayetteville, 72701.
My Prayers and condolences..
WOW!!!! I am so heartbroken to learn of Wesley’s passing. We were such good friends in school and I remember bringing my dad and mom to the restaurant in Fayetteville. My classmate. With MUCH love. Mike Harris. 1972
My Deepest condolences to the Family. Prayers for all.
My condolences and prayers to the family of Wes. Known Wes for more than 50 years. On the business side, he would graciously work with you to meet your budget for large functions with his services. The UA Black Alumni Reunions benefitted from his services for many years.
My condolences and love to the family.
Wes and Margie helped raise my beloved late son through high school and beyond. They were a respite for me from the stress of my work with the university. He will be missed by so many who loved and admired him.
So sorry to hear about Wes he was a very caring loving guy . Loved by all missed by many . Praying for Margie and the family . God bless you all
Prayers for the Whitmore Family!
Wesley was a great man! He was always kind to me. He was treated his friends like family, and treated his family as though they meant the world to him. He had a big heart and was never hesitant to help others. He will be missed. May he rest in the arms of the Lord.
Condolence’s to the whole family. Know them well and Wes was a great man. Prayers and love to the family.
Met Wes over 50 years ago and have been friends ever since. Worked closely with him and Margie at ROTC for decades. I’ve been a customer of his since he opened his business.
I’ve never met a finer man. He always was ready to help his family, friends and employees. Gracious and hard working are some of the first descriptions that come to mind. We will all miss you, my friend.
Amen, well said.
So sorry for this loss. I waited tables nights at ROTC when Wes was in kitchen during the day. And I am a devoted customer of Wes’s BBQ. Wes always seemed the same. Hardworking, professional, friendly. He never let the stress of the job show. He has a great family and I know they will miss him.
Wes was so good to me and my family. He will be missed by us all. He was truly an exceptional person. My heart goes out to Margie.
I remember him from ROTC. I didn’t know him very well, but he always had a friendly manner and was well-liked.
My condolences and Prayers to the family.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Whitmore family. Wesley was a classmate and very good friend. Sorry for your loss and may God bless and keep you 🙏
My condolences to the Whitmore family. He was one of a kind and knew how to sprinkle just the right amount of love into everything he cooked. He will be sorely missed by an entire community who came to know Mr. Wes and enjoy good food and great company. Rest in Peace sir.
I am saddened to learn of the passing of Wes. I lived in the neighborhood of Burger Plus and ate there many times. He was a fine man and will be missed.
A finer person I’ve never known. Wes emanated an aura of quiet calm, steady competence, and goodwill that affected all those around him. In all my years of working with him at R.O.T.C., no matter how stressful the situation if Wes was there we knew it would be okay. Kind, patient and fun to be around, I never knew him to have an enemy or to speak ill of anyone. He will be remembered, loved and missed by so many.
Rest easy, my friend. We were blessed to know you.
Condolences, love and comfort to Margie and family.