Marie T. White

Having Marie White as my grandmother was a great gift from God. I first met her around Jacksonville when they had temporarily moved there due to grandfather F.B.'s job with the railroad. I was about three years old. I remember her giving me some seashells out of her collection in a clear vase, taking a walk by the koi fish at the apartment complex, and going on a side trip to St. Augustine. We ate at the historic Santa Maria Restaurant that was built into a little dock (now closed) and of course went to the Castillo de San Marcos fort.

When they returned to Tennessee, Grandma lived up the road so I could ride my bike there. One day I asked if she was born in the Depression. She said, "Yes, were you born in the procession?" She had many jokes like that and was an incredibly good-natured person. I cannot recall a time that she was ever rude or treated anyone badly. Above all, she had accepted Jesus Christ and understood that Trinitarian Christianity is reality. She knew that Grandfather went to heaven last year, and we know that she is now in heaven with him.

I can attest from long distance that Marie White's mind was good to the end and that she was as conversational as ever. With her characteristic don't-need-nothing attitude, she told me over the phone before Christmas 2023 that, "You all don't need to buy anything for me this year." I said, "Oh okay, I will call the dealership and ask if they can take the Corvette back." We had a good laugh. She was a joy to be around for 90 years, a blessing to many. My only regret is that she had not been born yet in 1916 when you people hanged that large murderous beast that lacked self-awareness (credit: Descartes). She would have given an account with the flair that it deserved. It was the third best thing that ever happened in that little town, the other two events occurring in 1932 and 1982.

So many years and so many memories. I couldn’t choose just one. Most Saturdays we spent the evening having girl day, and girl talk. She always caught me up on her latest reads and the local news. We shared thoughts on politics, grandchildren, sewing, recipes, flowers, canning, our love of GOD, but mostly it was about the great grandchildren. She was so proud of the boys and the girls. She would almost always have a funny story to tell about one of the youngest. I would do her hair and she would teach me history. She taught me local history like Rock Creek, Lost Cove, and Erwin. She knew history of music, Presidents and their wives and their ancestors. It was through her avid reading that she discovered that my husband is the great great grandson of Stephen Morgan Bailey who started Lost Cove. After much research she discovered many of our ancestors for us that we would have never known existed. I tried to remember every story she told me. Many things I have written down. My book shelves could never hold the wealth of knowledge she gave me. She was my best friend and my best teacher. She was my first friend when I moved to Erwin and my first neighbor. She was humble, kind, and so very wise. She is irreplaceable to me and I will never forget how she took me under her wing and taught me and loved me. I just ask her last Monday, “ if you go before me, what am I going to do?”. She laughed and said “you’ll be fine after all I’ve told you everything I know”. I didn’t know at the time it would be our last girls night. My best buddies FB and Marie are together again and knowing that I can smile when I miss her the most.

Phyllis, Steve and family we know that Marie's passage on to heaven will leave a big hole in your hearts. May you be comforted and strengthened by the One who welcomed her home.