I find myself thinking of Marcus and you two boys regularly. He was a good friend, an amazing father, and a gift to all who met him.

Mr. & Mrs. Whitehead and Family,

I did not have the honor of meeting Marcus, but I recall how proud Sgt. Whitehead was and how she spoke fondly and lovingly of him back in the day when I worked under her leadership in the EPSO. May His Memory Be Eternal - and may his loving family be given peace and comfort. Rest In Peace.

Ricardo Rodriguez (EPSO 1986-1993)

May your shared memories of joy, love and appreciation give all of you continued feelings of peace and blessings!!

Marcus was an amazing man. His compassion, smile, and undeniable sense of service made him a pleasure to work with. My prayers go out to the family for your loss.

As Marcus is laid to rest today, I want to let everyone know that my prayers and thoughts are with you. I could not make it there, but I truly loved Marcus, and considered him an amazing friend. Now is the time to heal. He will always be with us in our hearts and souls. God bless you all during these tough times.

Dear Akeem,
My sincere condolences to you and your family on hearing of the loss of your father. May you find peace, comfort and the courage to face the days ahead with loving memories to forever hold in your heart. Your TI famliy is here for you.

I worked with Marcus back in the good ol' Crypto Mod and Early Systems Engineering days. He was one of the coolest and most accommodating co-workers I've ever had. Always willing to help, always up for a discussion, always with the best intention in mind. He was the kind of person that would help anyone, even a stranger. I am proud to say I knew Marcus and it is truly a loss to all who knew him. But while we mourn the loss of a good friend and person, we celebrate that he is in God's hands and is at peace and will continue to watch over us like he always has, just from up above.

My deepest sympathies to the family. God be with you all.

Whitehead Family, I am truly sorry for your lose. Marcus was a good man... I met Marcus in 2006; we worked together for over 5 years. He was a good dude, a good Mason Brother, a good story teller, and a good friend. I am thankful to have know him and I am thankful that he doesn’t have to suffer any longer. May peace be with you and your family.

My condolences to Marcus’s Family, my thoughts are with you. While we served in different services Marcus and I crossed paths many times throughout our careers, I had the pleasure of working with him in Florida, DC, and even after we retired from the military. He was always a positive individual with a can do attitude that was a pleasure to work with. I’m sorry for your loss, please be assured that he made a difference.

So very sorry to hear about Marcus passing. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Many thanks to the Whiteheads for the years of service to our country. May God bless them with peace in these very difficult times.

I worked with Marcus in the early days of standing up the Cryptographic Modernization Program at the Cryptographic Cyber Systems Division. Marcus always had a big infectors smile and as others have noted, a can do attitude. No task too big or small for him to take on. He was a true soldier of our great Nation in every sense of the word.

Marcus was a friend, a fellow soldier/comrade, Veteran.
He was a great example of human kindness. I will miss everything about him. He has left a great legacy in many ways but the greatest is the two fine young men he has been a father and friend to.

To Akeem and Jamal please remember: "The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example." Benjamin Disraeli I see his great example in both of you.

This quote helps me express how I feel about losing my friend, Marcus:
"The deep pain that is felt at the death of every friendly soul arises from the feeling that there is in every individual something which is inexpressible, peculiar to him alone, and is, therefore, absolutely and irretrievably lost." Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher

Marcus I know you are in the loving arms of Heavenly Father and that you will do great work for Him as you have done here. Miss you already and will think of you often.

My Sincere condolences to the entire family.

Brenda Hoster
US Army Retired, SGM

Marcus and I worked on the same program when he was employed with Jacobs Technology. I remember Marcus for his positive attitude, and 'can-do' approach for getting any job accomplished. He was the quintessential team player. But mostly, I will remember Marcus as someone who always had a smile on his face.
To his family: Please accept my sincere condolences. Marcus was a good man, and I will miss him.

I first met Marcus at Ft Bragg in 1995 at a 35th Signal Brigade Prop Blast. The event was a day long, grueling “initiation” for 15 new officers into the airborne and Marcus was our Combat Lifesaver or medic. The day started at 0500 and ran past midnight. The event was just as hard on Marcus as it was on the young officers or “Blastees”. He was constantly checking on the health of each member and administered over 10 IVs to keep the Blastees hydrated. He was worn out and highly stressed, but his warrior spirit and Can Do attitude was inspiring to everyone. He was a serious warrior.

I am a faculty member at Texas State University and Veronica Ray (daughter-in-law) is one of my students. I never met Mr. Whitehead, but I was following his struggle through conversations with Veronica. I could certainly tell he was a remarkable man and much loved. My deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Mr. Whitehead

To Marilyn, Philip and Family:

Even though I never met Marcus, I did enjoy the photos Marilyn would send, via email, of her family. Please accept my deepest, heartfelt sympathy for your loss. I pray that the sorrow and loss you feel, soon give way to warm memories, and that those memories will bring comfort and strengthen you, as you celebrate his life and home going. May God bless your family in this most difficult time.

For your mother, my cousin Marilyn, and the rest of your family,,,after reading about you, my regret is that you and my children never knew one another, but I believe that my late son Michael was there at the front of the line to welcome you to the entrance of the door of everlasting life leading to eternity. I now request that your beloved parents and the rest of our family accept my deepest and heartfelt sympathy.

Dios te tenga en Su Gloria.. Rest in peace.
Thank you Marcus. Thank you for showing what a good father looks like by your actions toward Akeem and Jamal, I was fortunate enough to witness. What a good father you were, you always have been. Thank you for all your joy at our children's wedding, Akeem and Veronica. Thank you for accepting us all into your family without hesitation. Thank you for all your stories, they were thought provoking. Thank you for your military service, our country was better for it. Thank you for giving of yourself to many and all. Lastly, for counting me in the long line of those who will always love your children, thank you Marcus.
With love in Christ, Norma and Jose Reveles

I knew Marcus as the Father of my best friend growing up. From what I knew, he was an incredible father that always looked after his two sons, Akeem and Jamal. I have an incredible amount of respect for him, even with the limited interaction I had with him. He will be missed and remembered.

May my father rest in much deserved peace, for he worked tirelessly to ensure my brother and I did not have to struggle in this too often cruel and cold world. Rather, my childhood was filled with warm memories of joy and laughter brought about by my father, as well as a barrage of life lessons essential to survival, both mentally and physically. I can only hope he left with the knowledge that his efforts to make a difference were a success, for I know I have become a better man due to his example.

Looking back, I recall how impressed I was when I first met Marcus. He worked with us for only a short period of time but I knew from the first day that he was a man whose work ethic resounded integrity, his relational skills were steeped in respect and understanding but above all his perspective was always centered, discerning, caring and compassionate. I smile as I realize now how much I loved to hear him laugh. His laughter was contagious.

Dear Akeem,

I didn't know Marcus was sick. We moved out of the neighborhood a few years back. He was always kind to me and especially to Robby. I feel blessed to have known him and your family. I admire his commitment to both of you boys. Such a wonderful man and father.

He was a man of values and commitment. Our families grew together over the years that you boys were growing up. You and your father always looked out for Robby and I am always grateful for that.

Marcus must have been so proud of you and everything you have achieved. You've done amazing things in your life, and no doubt your father impacted your great success most of all.

We recently reminisced about those days at thanksgiving. Marcus once encouraged me to try a new drink at Chili's that I probably never would have tried otherwise. It's still one of my favorites.

I will pray for you and Jamal. My condolences.

Cynthia Le Monds

Wishing you peace to bring comfort and the courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts. I am sadden to hear of Marcus passing. Although we were cousins, I never had the opportunity to meet him because of the distance we live from each other. I always heard what an outstanding man he was from other family members including his mother. His mother Marilyn is my first cousin and we have alway corresponded with each other. My heart goes out to both his parents, his siblings and his children. May he rest in peace.

Marcus,my Friend.I have never met a stronger,more thoughtful, caring person,and great Father .He cared so so much about his 2 boys.I remember the great times we spend together,and he never complaint about anything.He was a great listener, a very smart and amazing Friend .He listen to other people's problems,and he helped.I never forget,I got sick with pretty high Blood pressure, and he visited me the next day,and he bought me a new Blood pressure mashine,that's just the man and Friends he was.I will miss him so dearly,You raised your 2 boys to be great man,just like yourself.I am very proud to call you my pFriend I will miss your bright and Amazing smile,and big huggs..Love you always.

Always a smile for everyone may you rest in peace.

Marcus was a warm, vital, and loving man. There was nothing more important to him than his two boys. I remember when he first came to work with us at Fort Sam Houston. I was in constant awe of him when I found out about his life struggles to be a single parent of his two boys, one who had such an awful disease. He was such a warm and caring person who would go out of his way to help anyone who needed it. RIP. You were an awesome angel on earth and will be an awesome angel in heaven.

I met Marcus, and the boys,in March 2002, at Walter Reid Medical Center, when our sons had been diagnosed with Cancer. Both of our family's were transferred to San Antonio, for further treatment for our sons, and we became fast and firm friends, and confidantes, as we navigated keeping our sons alive. When I lost my son. Marcus held me, and cried with me, he was my one of the people who got me through it.

Shortly after my sons death, I had to have major leg reconstruction. My husband, would not help me during physical therapy, but Marcus did. He came to my appointments, and encouraged me to learn to walk again. He intimidated the therapists because of his rank...funny because he was such a gentle man. He would sit so I could rest my back against his when going through the routines. At times I would snap at him, when he would try to encourage me when I would be crying, from some movement or another.  The therapists would look at me in shock because of doing so.  Marcus would just laugh at me.

Once, when I was still in a wheelchair, my husband and I were at Sam's club, and Marcus and the boys were there also. My now ex-husband, got angry at me and left me there with my little girl who was 4. Marcus pushed me through the store and helped me with my purchases, pushed my wheelchair to his car, and took us home, even helping with getting the groceries put away. He was that way, he never failed to help someone.

As time went on, and I divorced, we got closer, and even talked of a possible life together... that did not happen, but we always stayed close, even when miles and time separated us. My daughter called the boys her "other brothers."

Marcus was the kindest, most giving, loving, and caring men I have ever met, and the best father I have ever seen. His dedication to his sons was inspiring. We talked a couple of times over the last two weeks, and his kids were still his concern. He loved you all so much.

I remember a man who could light up your soul with his smile, he never failed to make me feel as if I was the only woman in the world when we spent time together. He raised my spirit, nurtured my heart, drove me crazy at times with his idiosyncrasies, and was loved so very deeply.

To all who feel this loss, I am so very sorry. The world has lost one of the greatest men of all time.

Jamal and Akeem, I watched you both grow into men who emulate your father, you were blessed to be raised by him, I am so sorry his time on earth was not long.

To Phillip and Marilyn, losing a child is one of the hardest things to be survived. He loved you both so dearly. I feel blessed to have met both of you, as well as so many of your family. Marilyn, you once asked me why your son could not find a woman to spend his life with. Well, for me, it was not lack of love for him, that was there, it was because I was too afraid after having been in such a horrible marriage.

To Peggy and the cousins. I enjoyed our Sunday meals and movies. You always made me feel like I was a part of the family.

To Rose'... seeing you here in AZ, though seldom, is always a joy. Though we do not talk as often as we should, you are always on my mind. I consider you a true and loving friend.

I pray for everyone suffering this loss.

About 20 years ago I lost the sight in my left eye. Marcus said his dad was blind in one eye as well and asked me how I get through the day. I told him to put on an eye patch for 24 hours and he would understand. He put one on for the entire weekend! On Monday he came to me and said he was amazed, now he had an idea how his dad and I got by. Driving with the patch on really scared him! He cared a great deal about his family and friends and went the extra mile to show it.

I knew Mr. Whitehead through my longtime classmate, neighbor, and friend, Akeem. I remember a slightly intimidating but friendly and funny man. I was lucky enough to run into him in January at the New Braunfels farmers market. I was on a little Hill country vacation w friends to celebrate my birthday. I called out his name and jogged his memory of who I was. When he remembered he gave me one of his great big smiles. I introduced him to my friends and we stood and talked for 10-15 min about Akeem, Jamal, life and how kombucha tea is made. I'm thankful for our last encounter on that chilly but sun shining, beautiful Saturday morning. Rest in peace, Mr . Whitehead. Much love, Michelle Villejo

Marcus was one of the nicest and most loving men I have known. I met him through his sons. He was always there for them in their finest hours. He was the epitome of a dedicated father. I am so sorry Akeem and Jamal for you loss but know that he will be looking down on bother of you and watching over you even in his heavenly home. I didn't know your sister but I know he is watching over all of you. Love and Prayers to all who loved him.

Marcus was a loving and giving person and loved his friends and relatives. We loved him and will miss him. I will miss those talks we used to have. May he Rest in Peace with all of our relatives who have gone on ahead. Love you, Marcus. Your Aunt and Uncle, Peggy and Ike.

My Brother, Marcus, was a super person and very giving. Growing up, we sometimes would hang out with the same peers which brought new light to me and I realized my Brother was kinda Kool! LOL I will always remember his smile, no mater what was happening, his smile would light up the room. I Love You, Marcus and will miss you dearly. xoFlea