Obituary of Barbara White

Barbara Ann Jackson Simmons White went home to be with the Lord, encircled by loved ones, on December 12, 2017.

Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 15, 2017, at First Baptist Church, Florence, Alabama.  A celebration of life service will follow in the church at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Kevin Johnson officiating.  There will be no graveside service.  A private family interment will be at a later date.

Barbara is survived by her loving husband of sixty years, Jerry  White;  daughter, Kelly Hahs, and her husband, Dennis, of Eagle, Idaho; daughter, Stefanie Joyner, and her husband, Stephen, of Emmett, Idaho; grandchildren, Brittany-Rae Joyner, Kendall Joyner, Alexandra Hahs, and Jared Hahs, all of Idaho; brother, James A. White and his wife, Marjorie, of Sun City West, AZ; sister, Maudine Franks and her husband, Howell, of Tuscaloosa, AL; sister, Billie Boteler, of Tuscaloosa, AL, and a host of nieces,  nephews and cousins.

Barbara was born on September 20, 1937, in Florence, Alabama, where she lived her first fifteen years and attended Coffee High School.  Then she and her family moved to Homestead, Florida, where she graduated from South Dade High School.  After high school graduation, she returned to Florence to study at Florence State Teachers College.  There she met her future husband, Jerry White, an athlete and a military officer- in- training in the ROTC. He was quite smitten with the beautiful, soft-spoken homecoming queen—even more so when he discovered her beauty was inside as well as out. They married shortly thereafter and began an exciting military career of hard work and sacrifice, along with fun and travel.

Barbara was the epitome of a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.  She was a gentle woman with kindness, grace and intelligence.  She was a woman of faith.   She loved the Lord, her life and the people in her life—and they loved her back.  She will be greatly missed, as she was so greatly loved.

The family wishes to extend their love and appreciation to everyone—too many to name—but we do know each and every one of you, and we are so very grateful for your prayers and the love and support you have extended to us.  Special thanks to the Joshua Bible Study Class and to all our First Baptist Church family, our neighbors, and all our friends, for every act of kindness.  We extend our deep appreciation to Dr. Felix Morris, to Amedisys Home Health Care of Florence and Amedisys Hospice Care (especially, her nurse, Kristen Howard) of Florence for their patience, expertise, support, and compassion during this difficult time.  We also extend our sincere appreciation to Greenhill Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to First Baptist Church, 209 North Walnut Street, Florence, AL 35630  for the 218 Building Fund.

Greenhill Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.