Denise “Denny” Layne Dabbs Whitman, 74, of Vero Beach, Florida, passed away on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, in Vero Beach after a brief illness.

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on March 4, 1951, Denny was the daughter of the late Denton and Ann Dabbs. She was a graduate of Bauder College in Atlanta, Georgia. She made Vero Beach her home for nearly 50 years, after time in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Annandale, Virginia; and Denver, Colorado.

Denny married William “Bill” Neal Whitman, Jr. in 1983. They shared a life filled with family and love until Bill’s passing on July 20, 2025.

For over three decades, Denny worked as a paralegal with Collins Brown Barkett in Vero Beach, where she was appreciated for her diligence, warmth, and professionalism. Outside of work, she identified as Christian and lived her faith through how she loved others, especially her family and friends.

Denny loved fiercely. She found her greatest joy in her three sons and her thirteen grandchildren, and in the many family gatherings. A lifelong animal lover, she always had room in her heart and home for pets; her beloved dog Cookie passed earlier this year. She nurtured a diverse Florida garden, delighted in photographing hummingbirds, and tended to both plants and people with care.

She is survived by her sons, Joshua (Misha) Whitman, Jason Whitman, and Ian Whitman; her sister, Deanne; and her thirteen grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, William “Bill” Neal Whitman, Jr.; her parents, Denton and Ann Dabbs; and her brother, Scott.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to VNA Hospice House, 920 37th Place #101, Vero Beach, FL 32960.