Joe R White

COLUMBIA – Joe was born September 22, 1929 in Neshoba County, MS, and passed away on Monday, April 17, 2017. He was a son of the late Sara “Sadie” Mae Moore White and Joseph “Joe” White.

Joe was a graduate of Dekalb High School, Neshoba County, MS. He entered the United States Army in 1948 and retired in 1970, achieving the highest rank an enlisted soldier could earn. Joe served in Viet Nam and Korea. He earned many badges; the one he was most proud of was the Meritorious Unit Commendation. In 1976 Joe went to work with Lexington County and retired in 1998. He soon became the Director of General Services. In 2002, Joe was called back to Lexington County to orchestrate the move of the courthouse at that time to the new one that is there now. He was given the challenge to move people, computers, records and furniture; everything from top to bottom. Along with this challenge came a budget and time limit. He accomplished it, under budget and in the time limit. In 2004 Joe left the employment of Lexington County, but he never stopped loving his county.

He was a Charter Member of Lexington County Civitan for 12 years; Richland/Lexington Disability Special Needs Board for 18 years, and Babcock Center Foundation Board for 12 years. He was also a member of Victory Bible Baptist church.

Joe is survived by his wife, Jerry Ann White; sons, Joel R. (Rita) White and Gregory Scott (Jo Ellen) White. He was predeceased by a daughter, Mary Susan White and Colleen O’Rourke White, mother of Joel, Susan and Gregory Scott. Joe had four step children; Robert Bradley (Nancy) Haralson of Snellville, GA, and Cindy Marie Cornell (deceased), also, Greg Putnam and Monty Putnam, predeceased by their mother, Julia Ann White. Joe has one granddaughter, Kathryn “Katie” Jo Norton (Ian) Duda of Boone, NC, and two great-grandchildren, Caden and Mason Duda; his siblings, Sue (Al) Chadwick, of Brandon, MS, Ouida F. (Floyd) Williams, of Carthage, MS, and Hugh L. (Claudette) White, of Warrenton, MO. He was predeceased by his brother, John N. White, (Gaynell), of Philadelphia, MS. Joe has many nieces and nephews that he loved dearly.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 21, 2017 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, from 10:30 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 12:00 p.m. Military honors will follow at Bush River Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to The Babcock Center Foundation, PO Box 3608, West Columbia, SC 29171.

The family wants to express a very special “thank you” to Compassionate Care Hospice in assisting to make his homecoming as pain free as possible. Also, a very special “thank you” to a wonderful lady, Violet Grayson, with CC Hospice, that came every day, even on Saturday and Sunday, for the past three months to attend to Joe’s personal needs.