Harold Whitt Harper

Harold Whitt Harper, lovingly known as “Whitt,” age 64, of Ocala, Florida, was tragically taken from his family on January 7, 2026.

Whitt was born on February 10, 1961, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Harold D. Harper and Millicent “Millie” Harper. He grew up surrounded by the love and support of his family, who nurtured the passions that would shape his life.

He graduated from Forest High School in 1979 and went on to attend CFCC before continuing his baseball career at Winthrop College in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Whitt began his professional career in 1983 with Ellison Realty. In 1990, he entered the insurance profession at Signature Insurance Group in Ocala, Florida, later continuing his career with Brown & Brown of Florida, Inc. After many successful and respected years in the industry, Whitt retired from Brown & Brown in October of 2024.

On October 22, 1988, Whitt married the love of his life, Colleen Gilliam Harper. Together they shared 37 wonderful years of marriage filled with laughter, love, and countless cherished memories. Whitt was a devoted husband and a proud father to their two daughters, Danielle Sherman (husband Rick Sherman) and Cristin Egizio (husband Joe Egizio).

Whitt was deeply involved in his community and took great pride in giving back. He served on the board of the Marion County Roadbuilders Association and found great joy in running their annual golf tournament. He was also an active member of the Mid-Florida Regional Manufacturers Association, where he served as membership chair and coordinated their annual charity golf tournament. In addition, Whitt was involved in the annual Florida Feast charity fish fry, benefiting local charities including Interfaith Emergency Services and ARC.

A lifelong sports enthusiast, Whitt loved football, basketball, baseball, and golf—he truly was a sports fanatic. Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, he developed a love for NASCAR that he shared with his entire family. As a teenager, he was especially excited about moving to Florida so he could attend the Daytona 500 in person, a tradition he continued for nearly 40 years. A particularly memorable celebration was his 50th birthday, spent at the infield campground during the Daytona 500.

Whitt was also an avid Florida Gators fan. He proudly followed Gator football, basketball, and baseball, often traveling to watch them play. He attended the 2006 BCS National Championship game in Glendale, Arizona, and the 2008 National Championship game in Miami, Florida. Whitt also enjoyed cheering on the Gators during their back-to-back NCAA basketball national championships in 2006 and 2007.

Baseball played a significant role throughout Whitt’s life. His parents fostered his love for both baseball and golf, passions that stayed with him forever. Whitt played baseball at Forest High School in Ocala, Florida, then at CFCC for two years, before continuing his collegiate career at Winthrop College in South Carolina.

An avid golfer, Whitt was fortunate to play on some of the most renowned golf courses around the world. His love for the game began at a young age, learning alongside his father, Bud. His appreciation for a perfectly kept yard—legendary among family and friends—was inspired by that same love of golf. If you ever saw Whitt working in his yard, you could be sure you were seeing him at his happiest.

Above all else, Whitt had an enormous heart for his family. He never missed family celebrations and cherished every moment spent together. He also shared his life with a wide circle of dear friends and loyal clients. Whitt was known for his warm smile, kind spirit, and genuine joy in connecting with others.

Whitt is survived by his wife, Colleen Gilliam Harper; his daughters, Cristin Egizio (Joe Egizio) and Danielle Sherman (Rick Sherman); his sister, Amber Harper Wiles; his sisters-in-law, Gilda Hill (Walter Hill), Deidra Fajack (Mark Fajack), and Deneen Zimmerman (Ben Zimmerman); and his nieces and nephews: Kristen Kane (Brian Kane), Madison Wiles, Miranda Adkins (Brian Adkins), Dane Fajack (Kristen Fajack), Gillian Fajack, Trey Zimmerman, and Bray Medeiros (Zach Medeiros).

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Ocala Golf Club (“Muni”) on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., located at 3130 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, Florida 34470.

Whitt had a special passion for caring for the feral cat community in Ocala’s historic district. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Whitt’s honor to Sheltering Hands https://shelteringhands.org/donate/