Michael Lynn White

Michael Lynn White, also known as Mikey, Dad, Bubba, Pop, and Granddads, passed away Friday, October 9, 2026 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Michael was born on March 1, 1948 in Gaffney, South Carolina to John Helam White Sr. and Ann Roberta Barnes White. He came from a large family of 7 children.  John Jr., Bill, Betty, Mary, Peggy, Tom, and finally Michael. He was the baby of the family.  His birth certificate read Michael White-no middle name.  He chose Lynn as his middle name. This small act signifies how he became a successful businessman-he saw the need and fixed it with a whole lot of independence.

Michael met Katherine Worrell while she was attending Limestone College in his hometown of Gaffney, South Carolina. On one of their dates, she poured her cup of beer over his head. That sealed the deal. They married August 8, 1970 and later had two sons Jonathan and Andrew. Mike was inspired by Kathy’s father Clarence S. Worrell, a lawyer who started his practice and built a bank in Pineville, West Virginia. Mr. Worrell asked about Michael’s ambitions. This was a defining moment in his young life.  He wanted to measure up to the life Kathy had lived thus far, and he wanted to provide for her.  If you asked him the key to his many successes, he would point to his wife, her devotion to him and their marriage, and her family.

Michael graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s degree in Business. The first salaried job he had was as a manager was with Milliken Textiles in Spartanburg, South Carolina.  Because Milliken moved their operatives around so much, he decided to go into business for himself, recruiting his older brother Tom along the way.  He became a franchisee of Burger King in Statesville, North Carolina in 1982.  He grew that business to a total of 13 stores. Later, he started a Bojangles franchise which he grew to 11 Bojangles stores. The Burger King and Bojangles stores both received many awards over the years. He served on various committees related to both businesses. He took leadership roles in the Burger King Franchisee Association and the New South Coalition. He was an active member of the Bojangles Franchisee Association. He could not have been as successful as he was without hiring the right people.  He respected ambitious people who worked hard. His businesses thrived because he was engaged by building companies and growing partnerships with his friends. He was an intelligent and savvy businessman. He learned early on in his career with Burger King and Bojangles that one way to grow your business was to own the land the business operated on. If you asked him what he did for a living he would say that he was into real estate. He helped so many in one way or another whether it be monetary or counsel. Many of his friends and family have heard his bark, but underneath he was a good man with a big heart excited by growing businesses and helping his family and friends when they needed an ear to bend. He loved his family and many of his friends were treated like family, but he also had compassion for folks outside of his family. Because of his success he tended help those in need who most needed the help.

He believed in community and became a part of Statesville’s history. As a Burger King franchisee, he brought two balloons to the Carolina Balloon Fest. He was a member of the local Rotary Club as well as serving as a board member of the Iredell Memorial Hospital for several years. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Statesville. He liked going to farmer’s markets to support local growers and good cooks.  This was almost a kind of religion – he went twice a week to the Statesville Farmer’s Market as well as venturing to Greensboro and Asheville’s Farmer’s Markets.

He was an active patron of the arts. Tom and Michael helped Burger King sponsor the Little Picker’s tent at Merlefest in Wilkesboro from its inception. Michael and Kathy loved going to musicals and were active patrons of the Blumenthal Arts in Charlotte, North Carolina. He liked to read over watching TV. He gravitated to spy novels, thrillers, and historical novels. A favorite was Steven Pressfield’s Gates of Fire.  

He was proud of his garden which was too big and a stop in Statesville’s Garden Tour. He loved garden fresh vegetables, and he was right, nothing beats a tomato from the garden. He was generous. He was constantly putting bags of veggies together and giving them away to whoever walked in the kitchen door.  

He woke up at 5 am or earlier just about every day. He did not sleep easy. In the mornings he would be singing a tune or whistling one as he made coffee and prepared fresh fruit for breakfast. He liked cooking food for others and entertaining. Breakfasts at the White house were infamous. He loved grits-mostly yellow. He made a killer pimento cheese spread with habanero peppers and roasted tomatoes. He made awesome an Italian tomato sauce and agio olio. He perfected Kingstree chicken and ribs.  

He was most proud of his family. For many years his house was the Christmas hub for his mother, sisters and brothers as well as many cousins.  He expressed pride in his children’s accomplishments and supported them wholeheartedly in achieving them. His granddaughters, the “dollies”, were the apple of his eye; his hallway at home is lined with their photos. But most of all, he was in love with Po, as he called Kathy, who is the love of his life and his best friend; his companion for more than 56 years.

Michael is survived by his wife, Katherine Eloise (Worrell) White and his sons: Jonathan Senter White and wife Anneliese E. White and Andrew Thomas White. He is also survived by two grandchildren: Sydney Eckhardt White and Cora Marie White and a large extended family. He is preceded in death by his father, John Helam White Sr. and mother, Ann Roberta Barnes White; and siblings John White Jr., Bill White, Betty Long, Mary McNeil, Peggy Bellamy, and Tom White.

The family will receive friends at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home on Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 10:00 am with Dr. Nelson Grenade officiating. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

Floral tributes are welcome and may be sent loving memory of Michael. Donations may also be made in Michael's memory to the Glioblastoma Foundation, P.O. Box 62066, Durham, NC 27715, online at https://glioblastomafoundation.org/get-involved/donate/ or to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090, online at https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate

Condolences and fond memories may be shared with the family at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the care of Mr. White and his family.