Whitman Lamar Rouse passed away on January 29, 2022, at the Emory University Hospital, in Atlanta, Georgia. Whitman Lamar (Whit) Rouse, son of the late Joseph Goldsmith and Rev. Bernice Goldsmith, was born May 1, 1965, in Fort Valley, Georgia. He graduated from Monmouth Regional High School, where he ran track and played football for both varsity teams. Whitman attended Brookdale Community College before entering the United States Armed Forces. The Army afforded him the time to spend in Washington State and Germany. He later enlisted and served in the Army reserve as well.
Whitman had been known to work more than one job and held employment at several positions (Pathmark, McAfee Security, and The Jewelry Exchange) in New Jersey. Then, Whitman relocated to Georgia, where he joined the police academy, eventually becoming a police officer. In Atlanta, he established two businesses, ATL Postal Center and ATL Gunlock. Whitman recently retired from the Atlanta police force. He also recently had been captured on local news promoting his business and bringing insight into crime in Atlanta. Whitman loved reading, watching college basketball, track and talking to everyone he contacted.
He is predeceased by his father Joseph Goldsmith, grandparents John Clinton and Lillie Mae Goldsmith, Lucious and Ora Lee Boone and sister Kim Goldsmith.
He is survived by his mother Rev. Bernice Goldsmith; sister Deborah E. Rouse; brothers Ruben and Gill Price, Rudy Davis, Phillip Roberson, Brian Dean and John Woods; aunts Shirley Rouse, Sylvia Hill-Wainwright, Lillie Bell Washington, Helen Boone and Jackie Goldsmith; uncles John, Charles, Roger, and Calvin Goldsmith and Thomas Boone; nephew Aaron (Lenyse) J. Rouse; great nieces and nephews Amir, Amirah, and Asherah Rouse; cousins Ronica Rouse and Kevin Rouse.
Special Thanks, Mr. Steven S. Lawson (Lawson Funeral Home), Rev. Lessie Alston, Mr. Freddie Boynton, Ms. Clara Yarborough, Mr. and Mrs. Clem (Gwen) Berge, Rev. Benjamin Evans, Ms. Rebeca Frazier, Atlanta Police Department, Ms. Kim Smith
