Ms. Rebecca Whittington holds a BA in political science with a minor in speech communication from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She went on to graduate from Washington University with a law degree in 1983.

She worked for nine years as a partner with the law firm of Feirich, Mager, Green, and Ryan (formerly Feirich, Schoen, Mager, and Green), before opening her private practice in 1997, which is a general practice with emphasis on banking, creditor rights, estate planning, wills and trusts, real estate, condominium law, commercial transactions, and trial work in state and federal courts. She was hired as the Benton City Attorney in September 1997 and is the corporate and general counsel of numerous banks and businesses in southern Illinois.

She has been awarded several distinguished honors including the American Jurisprudence Award, 1983; Outstanding Young Women of America, 1981; and Volunteer of the Year, WSIU-TV, July 1999.

Ms. Whittington serves on the Board of Directors of the Pro Bono Center, Champaign, Illinois; she is also a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Jackson County Bar Association, Jackson County Bench and Bar Liaison Committee, Franklin County Bar Association, Seventh Circuit Bar Association, St. Louis Area Health Lawyer Association, ISBA Local Government Law Section Council, and she was formerly a member of the ISBA Insurance Section Council from 1986-1991 and an associate member of the Healthcare Section Council from 1993-1994.

Ms. Whittington is also very active in community affairs and is or has been involved in the following: The Steering Committee of Southern Illinois Women's Business Council; Carbondale Business and Professional Women's Organization; SIUC Museum Associates; Carbondale Arts in Celebration Board of Directors; church pianist and finance committee member at Immanuel Baptist Church in Benton, Illinois; Carbondale Chamber of Commerce Executive Board of Directors and past president; Carbondale Convention Tourism Bureau Board of Directors; SIU Law Advisory Board of Directors for Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinic; SIU Paralegal Studies Program Advisory Board of Directors, and the Franklin County United Way Board of Directors.