James W. White

Rev. Dr. James W. White, 62, of Power House Rd. in Morganton died Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at Burke Palliative Care Center in Valdese following a period of declining health. He was born August 26, 1946 in Glen Alpine, NC, and was a son of the late Robert Romulus White and Annie Belle Powell White. Rev. Dr. White graduated from Glen Alpine High School, and then went to college at John Wesley College and Asbury College. He obtained his Masters in Anthropology from Wake Forest University, a Masters of Divinity from Duke Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Rev. Dr. White was a missionary with OMS International in Ecuador, South American from 1978 until 1982 where he served as the Principal of International School in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He became an ordained Deacon and Elder in the Western United Methodist Church. The churches that Rev. Dr. White served included Level Cross/Siloam UMC Charge, Union Chapel UMC, Greer’s Chapel UMC, Mt. Carmel UMC, Bethesda UMC, and Skyland UMC. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, and playing the guitar.Rev. Dr. White is survived by his wife, Linda Guthrie White of the home; daughters, Kimberly W/ Money and husband, Danny, of Winston-Salem, NC, and Kristi Aberle and husband, Josh, of Sabetha, Kansas; a granddaughter, Kaylee Grace Money; brothers, Roy White and wife, Vera, of Granite Falls, NC, Ralph White and wife, Hilda, of Morganton, and Harold White and wife, Nell, of Glen Alpine; sisters, Mary Brown and husband, Harold, and Doris Orders, all of Morganton, and Libby Morgan and husband, James of Atlanta, GA; and a number of nieces, nephews, and extended family.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Cpl. James Robert White and Rev. Clyde White; sisters, Sadie Webb, Lillie Mae Green, and Carolyn Scott; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 24, 2009 in the Family Life Center of Bethesda United Methodist Church, 2922 Bethesda Rd., Lexington, NC with the Reverends Jon Strother, Paul Perry, Terry Duckworth, and Doug Hochmuth officiating. The family will receive friends Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. in the Family Life Center. Burial will be at 4:30 p.m., Saturday at Glen Alpine Cemetery in Glen Alpine with the Reverends David Duncan and Keith Turman officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690 or to the The Gideons International, PO Box 678, Morganton, NC 28680-0678. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.