Ann White Roe

Ann White Roe, 81, passed away in Atlanta from a sudden illness the afternoon of Friday, July 10, 2026. She was born in Jamestown, New York, on June 17, 1945, and grew up in this small town, close to extended family.

Ann attended Jamestown High School where she was Homecoming Queen of her senior class and often played piano for the student plays. She majored in Classics at Smith College in Massachusetts and then went on to teach Latin and Ancient History in middle and high school in Boston. A couple of years after her college graduation, and after just three dates, she got engaged to her now husband of fifty-six years, James T. Roe III (“Jim”), from Rome, Georgia, while he was in law school in Boston. After his law school graduation, they moved to San Francisco for a couple of years, where their daughter, Laura, was born, and then moved to Atlanta, where their son, David, was born.

Ann loved her husband and her children dearly, and everyone could see it. As the children were growing up, Ann was a stay-at-home mom, actively involved in her children’s lives, including school and activities. As the children got older, Ann increased her service to the Atlanta community, including serving the Members Guild of the High Museum of Art, as a full-time volunteer and eventual board member. One of her favorite volunteer activities was chairing the High Museum’s annual fundraiser, The Arts and Antique Show. She served the family’s church, Northside Drive Baptist Church, singing in the choir and hosting their fellowship group. Ann and Jim loved spending time with friends as well, from dinners out, to concerts at Chastain Park, to multi-family weeks at the beach together.

Once their children were in college, Ann and Jim moved to Nevada for his business. There, Ann worked at Nevada Power Company for several years before retiring. They recently moved back to Atlanta, to be closer to family and dear friends.

Ann loved people – and they loved her – be it her family, friends, co-workers or people whom she had just met. She loved playing games – oftentimes hours on end – with the kids and grandkids and other family members. She was great with words, and, for many years, enjoyed completing the New York Times crossword puzzles. Ann was a voracious reader, reading up to 50+ books a year. Most of all, Ann was a light and a joy, which was a direct reflection of her love for Jesus.

She is survived by her loving husband, James T. Roe III (“Jim”); her daughter, Laura Roe Jones (Stuart); son, Dr. David Carlson Roe (Charity); her four grandchildren, Zachary Ethan Roe (Maggie), Emma Grace Corinne Roe, John William Roe and Benjamin Aaron Roe; her two step-grandchildren, David Stuart Jones II (“Sonny”) and William Beauregard Jones (“Beau”); her brother, Dr. John Lawrence White (Toni); and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Herbert Aspinal White and Dona Carlson White, and her brother, Robert Aloysius White.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 850 Mount Vernon Highway, Atlanta, Georgia 30327, on Friday, July 17th, at 10:00am, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the High Museum of Art in Atlanta or World Vision.