Nelson Elmer White

He was preceded in death by his wife, Billie Ruth White as well as his parents, three brothers, and one sister. He is survived by a daughter, Ruth Gray (Tim) of Tuscaloosa, a son, Clark White (Kelly) of Alabaster, and four grandchildren, Caleb Gray (Savanna), Abbey-Paige Gray Johnson (Connor), Emma White and Joshua White. He also has three great grandsons, Bennett Gray, Mason Gray and Elliott Johnson.

Reverend White, also affectionately known as Brother White, Dad, and Pop, lived a long and fruitful life dedicated to his ministry of the gospel and love of family and friends.

His ministry began in his early 20s and continued for over 70 years. His first full-time ministry was as a Youth and Music Pastor at Crichton Assembly of God in Mobile, where he met and married Billie Ruth Dixon in 1954. From there, they embarked in evangelistic ministry, followed by their first pastorate at Temple Assembly of God in Clanton beginning in 1956. In 1963, they accepted the call of the Alabama Assemblies of God to serve as District Christ Ambassador President (D-CAP) serving the youth of Alabama through summer camps, rallies, and youth conventions. In 1967, they took the pastorate of First Assembly of God in Tuscaloosa, anchoring themselves to the city where they would live the remainder of their lives. Their ministry at First Assembly was marked by retiring debt and advancing the church in its heart for global missions. In 1982, they became pastors of North Bibb Assembly of God in Woodstock. Brother White then enjoyed a second season of evangelistic ministry with his son Clark as they took their trombones across Alabama in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In his prime years of pastoring, Reverend White also served the Alabama Assemblies of God as the Assistant Superintendent from 1970 to 2000, and served as a member of its Presbytery Board for 41 years.

The latter season of his ministry included 15 years of fruitful work at the Bibb County Correctional Facility where he and Sister White were beloved and saw many salvations. Alongside that work, they became pastors at Bethesda Assembly of God in the Benevola community where they served a loving congregation until their retirement in 2020. They also served in local nursing homes and VA facilities bringing encouragement in each setting. Reverend White was an accomplished trombonist and enjoyed playing for the Lord as well as local symphonies and the 5th Alabama Regimental Band, for which he served as Chaplain.

Brother White used his gifts, talents and love of music to fulfill his desire to minister to others, well into his 90s.

Over 70+ years of ministry, he impacted thousands of souls for Jesus. He had the honor and privilege of not only preaching the gospel, but also performing numerous weddings, baptisms, funerals, and other special events.

As a husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, he was well loved by his family. He invested his life generously into the lives of those he loved who affectionately called him Pop. We rejoice in the legacy he left to us.

A visitation will be held on Friday, October 31st at 10:00 am followed by a funeral service at 11:00 am at First Assembly of God in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. A private committal service will take place afterwards.

Honorary pallbearers include the congregations he served in Mobile, Clanton, Tuscaloosa, Woodstock, and Benevola, as well as his beloved Alabama Assemblies of God fellowship.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to Gideons International or to the Missions Project fund of Kingwood Church. Any gifts to these organizations will be used to continue his heart of spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. If giving to Kingwood using the link below, please select the fund called "Missions Project".

https://pushpay.com/g/kingwoodchurch