Pezavan P. Whatley died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005, in a local hospital.
He was born on Jan. 10, 1951, in Chattanooga to the late Andrew Joe Whatley and Beatrice Whatley.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, William T. and Matilda Franklin Mitcham, and father.
At a young age, Pezavan accepted God and was first baptized in 1959 at Greater Tucker Missionary Baptist Church and later again at St. Francis Catholic Church. Pezavan remained an active member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
Pez graduated in 1969 from Notre Dame High School. During his tenure, he earned two state high school wrestling championships, first in 1967 and again in 1969, becoming the first black athlete recognized in this event. At Notre Dame he also played football in the position of running back. He attended Southern University at Baton Rouge, LA, later joining the University of Chattanooga, where he quickly earned a varsity letter.
Having this love for wrestling, Pezavan used these talents as his stepping stones allowing him to escalate to the professional wrestling arena under the aliases of "Pistol Pez," "Shaska" and "Willie B. Hurt" being some of the names he had in his top hat of many to choose from.
Pez was noted not only for his athletic ability but also for the love of people. If he met you for the first time, he would always remember that first meeting. His love for people was so large his heart could not expand fast enough to accept it all. His abundant love of wrestling propelled him to launch a Saturday night television program titled "The Take-Down Show" for Chattanooga and the surrounding communities featuring high school wrestling from the wrestler’s point of view to the coaches and referee expression and the inside pages of the sport.
With constant declining health, Pez always kept the sport of wrestling and the love of Chattanooga on the front burner for everyone to enjoy.
He is survived by four children, Pezavan II, Letitia, Nicholas and Cecil; six grandchildren; mother, Beatrice Whatley; brother, Andrew J. Whatley Jr.; sister, Autrey Wade; sister-in-law, Francis (Willis) Whatley; and host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be at noon on Saturday at Tucker Baptist Church with the Rev. Billingsley and others officiating.
Interment will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. Friday at the McCallie Avenue Chapel of Franklin-Strickland Funeral Directors, (423) 265-4414.