Feb. 2, 1919 – April 5, 2013

NATCHEZ — Services for Deacon Samuel White Sr., 94, of Natchez, who died Friday, April 5, 2013, at his residence, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Melvin White officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez National Cemetery under the direction of Robert D. Mackel and Sons Funeral Home.

Visitation and Masonic ceremony will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until service time Friday, both at the church.

Deacon White was born Feb. 2, 1919, the son of Curtis White Sr. and Mary Williams-White. He received his formal education from Brumfield School and was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He retired from Feltus Brothers Hardware Company as a truck driver.

Deacon White was baptized in July 1935, in the Mississippi River by Pastor Drake. He joined Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church where he served in a number of ministries that included the choir, janitor, Sunday school superintendent, benevolent treasurer and deacon.

He was a member of the Willing Workers Club, Deacon Progressive Club, NAACP, King David Lodge No. 2, A F & A M Masonic Lodge and was an avid Atlanta Braves and Dallas Cowboys fan.

Deacon White was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Edna Berry-White; his wife, Clementine Woods-White; one daughter, Linda White-Wiley; one son, Clifford Lewis White; four sisters, Marion White, Virginia Berry, Annie Mae Smith and Lucille Pollard; and four brothers, the Rev. James White, Willie White, the Rev. Curtis White Jr., and Bishop Jessie White Sr.

Survivors include five sons, the Rev. LeRoy White and wife, Claudia, of Natchez, Samuel White Jr., Richard E. White and wife, Wendy, Ernest White and Freddie R. White and wife, Monica, all of Sacramento, Calif.; one daughter, Dr. Edna R. White-Thomas and husband, Perry, of Hattiesburg; a special niece, Shirley Smith-Lewis and husband, Carthy, of Natchez; two special nephews, Wilbert Berry Jr. and wife, Ava, of Natchez and the Rev. Melvin White and wife, Tammy, of Red Lick; a very special friend, Mrs. Jessie L. “Boosie” Proby; 14 grandchildren, Andre, Cicely, Daniel, Kyuan, Kiwanis, Kishara, Semaj, Larry, Donyori, Precious Kietia, Walkita, Keisha, Betty and Freddie Jr.; 17 great-grandchildren; a number of stepchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, church families; and his nurse, Teleter Tucker, LPN, and sitters, Francine Weathersby and Lonnell Romar.

Pallbearers will be the deacons of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church.