Lisa Jean White

      To Lisa Jean White, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Lisa, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Lisa really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

      Lisa was born on February 4, 1961 at Riverside Hospital in Newport News, Virginia. Her parents were George "Buck" and Jean Harrington. Lisa was raised in Newport News, Virginia and Greeneville, Tennessee. Even as a child, Lisa had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

      All of Lisa's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Lisa experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She was a Girl Scout in her early years. In her spare time she liked crafts such as cross-stitching.

      Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Lisa was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Lisa simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Lisa, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, but she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Lisa's best teacher, she enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Lisa graduated from Greeneville High School in 1979. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. The teacher she enjoyed learning from the most was Ms. Powell. Lisa will be remembered by being a member of the Flag Corps in the Marching Band.

      Lisa reveled in her college years, where her imagination could run free. She was viewed by many of her classmates as being a creative, artistic person. Lisa was usually found at the center of things, whether it was during class or in extracurricular activities. She was a jovial person who loved to share her passion for fun with others. But for Lisa, life was not a case of all play and no work. Lisa relished the task of putting her imagination to work in class. She was able to discover new and different ways of answering problems and creating unusual and different solutions. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Therapy. She also pursued graduate school, earning her Master of Science degree in Speech Pathology.

      Lisa never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. She was drawn to individuals and crowds, using her gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate her audience. This quality allowed Lisa to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Lisa delighted in her role among all her acquaintances, because she viewed them all as potential spectators for her performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Lisa was always right at home putting on a show among her friends. Lisa utilized her interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of her best friends were Liz Hubbard, Penny Ramsey, and Ann Howe. Later in life, she became friends with Jennifer Teague, Ann Ottinger, and Shelly Pierce. Lisa loved sharing life and having her home filled with people she knew.

      The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Lisa very easy to approach. On November 30, 1984 Lisa exchanged wedding vows with Glenn Wilson White at First Baptist Church in Greeneville, Tennessee. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

      Perhaps the reason Lisa related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Lisa was blessed with two children, a son, Devin W. White, and a daughter, Haley J. White. Lisa had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Lisa's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Lisa had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

As Devin and Haley entered high school, Lisa was sure to be involved in every interest and extra curricular activity. She was very proud of Devin's musical and artistic talent and Haley's ability to dance and cheer. She never missed an opportunity to watch, listen and tell others of thier accomplishments.

      At work, as in life, Lisa was a real “people person. ” she had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Lisa liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Lisa was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Lisa's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Lisa as an excellent problem solver. Her primary occupation was as a speech pathologist. She was employed for 25 years by the Greene County School System.

      Lisa enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Lisa liked creating and making things. Her favorite pursuits were scrapbooking, photography, and participating in whatever her kids were involved in. Lisa was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

      Lisa felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if she wasn’t the best, Lisa loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Lisa relished the opportunities where she could make an impact, and she would often push herself to play above her abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Lisa never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Recreational sports included hiking, camping, and snowskiing. Lisa was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list was Tennessee football.

      A generous person who often wore her heart on her sleeve, Lisa often found herself involved in activities she deemed important. She was charitable, kind and giving, qualities that made her a natural volunteer. Outspoken in her beliefs, yet tactful in her dealings with others, Lisa was a member of several community groups, serving on committees for the American Cancer Society - Relay For Life.

      Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Lisa recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. She was a member Towering Oaks Baptist Church for 14 years. During that time, she was a Vacation Bible School teacher, Sunday School teacher, childrens camp counselor and youth group volunteer. Lisa loved her 6th grade Sunday School class, preparing special Bible lessons and activities to help them grow in their Christian walk. Lisa had a close friendship with her Sunday School teachers Kim Miller, Chuck Jeffers, and Oscar Morrison.

      Living life in the fast lane suited Lisa just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Carribeaan cruises, an Alaskan Cruise, Snow Shoe Mountain, and Mt. LeConte Lodge.

      Lisa was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, enjoying them almost as much as she enjoyed being around other people. One of Lisa's favorites was Mango, a cat. They were best friends for 4 years. Her family was rounded out by her cat, Tango, and her dog, Bandit.

      Lisa passed away on December 13, 2009 at Laughlin Memorial Hospital. Lisa fought a brave battle against cancer. She is survived by her husband, Glenn; her children, Devin and Haley; and her parents, Buck and Jean Harrington. Services were held at Towering Oaks Baptist Church. Lisa was laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery in Greeneville, Tennessee.

      Lisa brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Lisa Jean White lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.