Avery Joseph White

Avery Joseph White—son, brother, grandson, friend, and follower of Christ — died on Monday, January 30, 2017 in Birmingham, AL. He was 21 years old and a senior in the Brock School of Business at Samford University.

In the first few weeks of life we knew Avery had a unique gift --- an iron-willed determination. He had RSV at 3 weeks old and lived under a plastic oxygen tent for a week. Avery fought hard to win the battle over RSV and recovered in record time. We knew right then that Avery was a fighter.

Avery was one of the most determined, persistent, young men we have ever known. Avery was diagnosed with dyslexia and still learned to read and excel in academics. After suffering from concussion-related injuries, Avery began struggling with debilitating depression yet still fought to be incredibly successful in the classroom and on the soccer field.

Avery skipped his senior year at Vestavia Hills High School and started Samford University a year early. With a desire to be the best, Avery decided to pursue a triple major in finance, accounting and computer science. He ultimately planned to pursue a Ph.D. in finance.

In keeping with Avery’s loving and generous spirit, it was his decision to donate life so that others may live. Specifically, Avery’s untimely death will help advance the critical work of Dr. Bennet Omalu and Dr. Julian Bailes and the Brain Injury Research Institute’s ongoing chronic traumatic encephalopathy research, highlighted in the 2015 movie Concussion.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Brain Injury Research Institute (www.protectthebrain.org) or the Avery White Scholarship at Samford University (www.samford.edu).

He is survived by his parents, Dr. Darin and Laura White; his older brothers, Daniel and Corey; his younger sisters, Bethany, Hannah and Abigail; his younger brother, John; his paternal grandparents, Russell and Linda White; and his maternal grandparents, Warren and Katherine Weed and Dr. Howard and Shannon Houser.

Avery’s life will be celebrated at a memorial service at 2 pm on Saturday, February 04, 2017 at Church of the Highlands Riverchase Campus.