In memory of Maria Hermenia Whitehurst-Giles to Help Eric’s Family in Their Time of Loss

Maria Hermenia Whitehurst-Giles was a loyal, self-motivated, and admired 911 dispatcher for 10 years in Miami, FL. In the mid-90s, the Miami-Dade County Fire Department started hiring women, and she joined as part of the first women's class hired onto the Miami-Dade Fire Department. She proudly worked in the Department for 19 years. In a short time, she rose up the ranks and achieved her goal of Captain. She loved what she accomplished in her career and was an advocate for setting goals and working hard to achieve them.

After her retirement, she moved to South Carolina, where she and her husband built a home on a lake. She was known to be bold, driven, and you could not miss her fiery red nails from a mile away.

Tragically, her life was unexpectedly cut short on Saturday, 9/13/25, at the young age of 70 by an unexpected stroke.

She is survived by her husband Art Giles and three children: Stephen Whitehurst, Jill Whitehurst, and Eric Whitehurst.