Hugh L. White

Hugh L. White, of Columbia, Mississippi, passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 16, 2022 at the age of 91. He was born in Hathorn, Mississippi to Oscar and Emma Sinclair White and has been a lifelong resident of Columbia. Hugh enlisted in the Army at the age of 15 and served in Korea until 1948. After being discharged, he returned to Columbia and finished high school in 1950. That same year he met and married Juanita Wagley and started working in the petroleum industry. He joined Humble Oil (Exxon) in 1952 and worked in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, Norway, Scotland, Ireland, Egypt, and the Ivory Coast over his 35 year career. He worked hard at his job to provide for his family and served his community as a first responder with the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years. Hugh was a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Columbia. He was a compassionate man and will be remembered for always lending a helping hand to many a friend and family member.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Gladys White Anderson; two brothers, Beason White and Thomas White; a son Charles Wayne White; and his beloved wife, Juanita Wagley White. Hugh is survived by two sons, Robert “Scooter” White (Paula) and Ron White (Vicki); four grandchildren, Jennifer White Warren (Nate), Erik White (Jen), Leigh Anne Shepard (JC), and Robb Harvey (Nikki); great-grandchildren, Evelyn Warren, Nick Warren, Hannah Warren, Kynzi White, Keaton Sheppard, Shep Shepard, Sawyer Jane Shepard, Hank Harvey, and Hayden Harvey.

There will be a visitation for Hugh at Colonial Funeral Home from 12:00pm until 2:00pm on Wednesday, December 28, 2022. The funeral service, officiated by Reverend David Rogers and Reverend Tom Thurman, will follow at 2:00pm in the funeral home chapel. Hugh will be laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department.