Mr. Eugene S. White, Jr.'s Obituary
God blessed Jessie and Eugene White Sr. with Eugene Sullivan White Jr. on Tuesday, June 27, 1933, in Adel, Georgia, as the 10th of 14 children. On Thursday, February 3, 2022, God gave him eternal rest as he transitioned at his home in Meridian, Mississippi, surrounded by family. In 1953, after completing high school, he enlisted in the United States Army and married his high-school sweetheart, the late Elizabeth Payne. He went on to serve numerous tours of duty throughout the world, including three tours in Korea and two in Vietnam. During a time with very few African-American so~diers in leadership roles, he broke barriers by becoming one of the first Black soldiers to graduate from the Sergeant Major Academy at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas; he achieved the highest rank for an enlisted member of the Army. After more than 30 years in the Army, he retired, honorably, as a highly decorated veteran and has remained a supporter and advocate for veterans and veteran related affairs. In 2011, he married his faithful wife, Mary White, whom he loved and cherished until his last breath. Outside of his military career, he was deeply passionate about photography, woodworking, sports, bicycling, gardening and mentoring young men. His good works touched and forever changed the lives of many people. He was affectionately known as "Junebug" and "Pops" by his children, and "Gene," "the flower man," "Brother White" and many other titles by friends and family. He began his relationship with God through Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Adel and was a faithful supporter of The Pentecostal Church of God in Meridian, Mississippi. He was a believer and knew that Jesus Christ was his Lord and Savior. Before his transition, he frequently looked to the quote, "When fear knocks on your door, let Faith open it." He leaves to cherish his precious memories: his wife, Mary White; four children, Tonja White, Richard Payne-White (Brenda), Robert Garner (Fran) and Crystal Taylor (Ellis); his brother, Leonard White (Isabel); grandchildren (Richard Jr. and Candesha), greatgrandchildren (Aalishee Devonne, Princess Dahlia and Leola), and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, his granddaughter Leola, and twelve of his siblings: Cornelius (Margaret), Mary Belle (Albert), Roy (Inez), Louise Oames), Lillian (Thay), Betty (Eugene), Gertrude, Robert (Linda), Gwendell (Sanders) and Sylester (Al T.) -including two who died at infancy. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
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