Roy Alonza White

Roy Alonza White, 96, of Fayetteville, died Friday, May 25, 2012, surrounded by his family at Carrol S. Roberson Hospice Center.   He died from complications subsequent to a fall.  

Roy was the youngest of six children, born in Chadbourn, NC on October 10, 1915, to the late Alonza Adelton White and Smithie Stevens White.  He was preceded in death by his two brothers and three sisters:  Garland, J. Moodie, Retha (Campbell), Carlene (Thompson), and Anna Belle (Lane).  

Roy is survived by Thelma Butler White, his wife and life partner of nearly 72 years.  
They met on a blind date to White Lake in 1939, were married in Fayetteville in 1940, lived and worked in Wilmington for a few years, before returning to Fayetteville during World War II to make it their home.  While living in Wilmington, they would visit Thelma’s family near Autryville in Sampson County, riding the train to Hayne, NC.  Sometimes, they made the trip riding in a boxcar because there were more passengers than available seats on the train.

In addition to his wife, Thelma, Roy is survived by his daughter, Marcia White (Darrell Ruffin) of Raleigh, and son, Lt Col (ret) Roy A. White, Jr. (Rindy) of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas; three grandchildren, Copper White Ferreira (Wesley) of Fort Collins, Colorado, McKinley White Rich (Daniel) of Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, and Roy A. White, III of Irving, Texas; two great-grandsons, Camden Ferreira and Britton Rich; and dozens of nieces, nephews, their children and grandchildren.  

Roy was retired, having worked as the bookkeeper at Horne’s Drug Store in downtown Fayetteville for 29 years until it closed in 1975, and then at Whispering Pines Nursing Home for 12 years.   He also used his bookkeeping skills to serve his and Thelma’s church, First Baptist, as its Treasurer for 25 years.  

Roy preferred the “quiet servant” role – as a son, brother, husband, father, in-law of the Butler family, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, Christian, church member, lifetime deacon and leader, neighbor, friend, gardener, carpenter, and beekeeper.  He influenced others through his patience, dignity and persistence, ever thankful for all of God’s blessings in his life.  His love of gardening lives on through the azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas, hostas, and flowering cherry trees he nurtured and shared with so many.  

Roy’s family is especially grateful to the members and staff of First Baptist Church and to the kindhearted and capable staff at Heritage Place/Suites who have taken such good care of Roy and Thelma for the years they have made it their home.  These and so many family members have been particularly caring to Thelma in the days and weeks since Roy’s illness and death.  The staff at Carrol S. Roberson Hospice Center provided compassionate care, ensuring that Roy was peaceful and pain free in his final days.    

A memorial service to celebrate Roy’s life will be held at First Baptist Church in Fayetteville, on Saturday, June 16, 2012, at 5 PM, led by the Reverends Ed Beddingfield and Brent Rector.   Visitation will be at 4 PM in Memorial Lounge at the church.   A private interment was held on Sunday, May 27, 2012, at Lafayette Memorial Park, arrangements by Sullivan’s Highland Funeral Home.  

In Lieu of flowers memorial may be made to First Baptist Church, Anderson and Old Streets, Fayetteville.