Sara Williams White

Sara Thedora Williams White, a beloved pillar of the Brookland and Woodridge communities in Northeast Washington for 70 years, died peacefully on July 2, 2024, in Sarasota, Florida, where she spent the last six years of her life with her daughter Marilyn and her husband Kwame Holman. She was 99 years old.

She will be remembered by many for her legendary leadership of Brownie and Girl Scout troupes during the 1950s and 1960s and her service on parent teacher associations at four public schools. She was a devoted and active member of the congregation at Church of Our Saviour for decades. In 2017, the Episcopal Diocese of Washington awarded her a certificate of appreciation for her “Service to God, Church and Community” at a ceremony at the National Cathedral. But her most tangible legacy may be the hundreds of hand-knitted cap, sweater and bootie outfits that that she made which were donated to young mothers throughout the metropolitan area on behalf of the Hospital for Sick Children.

Her husband of 42 years, Jack E. White Sr., founder of the Howard University Cancer Research Center died in 1988. They had five children: Jack White Jr, of Charlottesville, VA; David Anthony White, of Hyattsville, MD; Carole Diann Ringer, of McLean, VA; Sara Lorraine Gay, of Richmond, VA; and Marilyn White, of Sarasota, Fl. There are eight grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations on her behalf to the Church of Our Saviour or the Howard University Cancer Research Center.