David Walter White, age 71, a good and faithful servant of our Lord and Savior, was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on June 27, 2020. He was preceded in death by his father, Howard Sloan White; mother, Mary McCulloch White; two brothers-in-law, John Cruise and David Cruise; sister-in-law, Jacqueline Vaughn; and many beloved aunts and uncles.
David is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Donna Cruise White of Chelsea, Alabama; daughter, Brooklyn Anne White of Chelsea; brother, James Howard White (Patricia) of Longs, South Carolina; sisters-in-law, Helen Cruise and Beverly Cruise; nieces, Ruth White, Dawn Cruise, Christie Adams, and Yvette Pierce; nephews, David Cruise and Brett Pierce; many cousins; and numerous friends.
David was born in Charlotte, North Carolina and had a wonderful childhood filled with a great love for the outdoors. His family resided in Huntersville, North Carolina, where he graduated from North Mecklenburg High School in 1966. Upon graduation, he attended Western Carolina University for his core curriculum. He soon transferred to the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources in Athens, Georgia where he was a member of Xi Sigma Pi and graduated with honors in 1970.
After college, David was immediately employed at International Paper in Florala, Alabama. When not at work or serving as youth pastor for the local Presbyterian church, he could be found skiing on Lake Jackson.
Soon, he accepted a position in Heflin, Alabama with Kimberly Clark, spending many evenings and weekends fighting forest fires. He was soon introduced to who would become his lifelong sweetheart. David and Donna were married at McCoy United Methodist Church in Anniston, Alabama on November 3, 1973. They would welcome their first and only daughter, Brooklyn, three years later in 1976. Together, David and Donna shared a passion for singing in the choir and enjoying fellowship with their friends at Heflin United Methodist Church.
David was transferred to the Montevallo, Alabama area to manage the local wood yard. During their 18 years there, David was a faithful member and elder of Montevallo Presbyterian Church. Neighbors soon became family, and David enjoyed many trips and vacations to the beach and mountains filled with golf and fishing.
David and Donna moved to Chelsea, Alabama in 2000 and joined Morningstar United Methodist Church. He enjoyed making coffee every single Sunday for his congregation and attending Cornerstone Sunday School class.
David would retire from Coosa Pines Mill in Childersburg, Alabama in 2012 after 42 years of forestry service.
“The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5, 22-23. When you think of David White – you are immediately reminded of these Fruits of the Spirit because he embodied every single one. He was a peacemaker who served others with compassion. His love for human kind and children was demonstrated through his constant acts of kindness and service that was always given with a joyful heart and never desired credit or recognition.
Even on his journey with Parkinson’s and Dementia over the past eight years, David handled his diagnosis and symptoms with complete patience and grace.
A celebration of life for David will begin at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Chapel in Pelham, Alabama. The family will greet friends for one hour before the service. Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Glasgow, Scott Lightfoot, John Lightfoot, Ben McIntyre, Parker McIntyre, and Porter McIntyre.
The gravesite committal service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2020 at Forestlawn Gardens and Mausoleum in Anniston, Alabama. Reverend Dr. Steve West of Jacksonville First United Methodist Church will officiate.
The family acknowledges that these are unique times given the Covid-19 situation, and safety precautions will be implemented during the visitation and services to keep our guests well. David's family welcomes all who wish to attend, but also recognizes that all guests must determine their attendance based on their own well-being and potential risk. Therefore, a video of the celebration of life for David on July 1 will be made available at his special page at www.SouthernHeritageFunerals.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that all donations be made to Morningstar United Methodist Church or to Asbury United Methodist Church, Attn: Anchor Ministry, in Birmingham, Alabama. David spent several days enjoying the Anchor Ministry, a respite program for caregivers and their loved ones on a journey with Dementia.
The family wishes to thank all family, friends, neighbors, and healthcare servants who have supported them through this journey, including Ms. Laura Lieb, CRNP at UAB Department of Neurology; ComfortCare Home Health; and Esther Harley of Kindred Hospice.
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