Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....White, Walter W., 1919 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ WALTER WALLACE WHITE W.W. WHITE’S DEATH GREAT LOSS TO COUNTY Walter White is dead. When his news spread over Boykins Saturday night between 7 and 8 o’clock there was sadness and sorrow in every heart. The news came, too, as a distinct shock to the community, for while he had been sick just exactly one week with pneumonia, and while the attending physicians, the family and the nurse had realized all the time that his condition was serious, yet everyone had hoped he would pass the crisis successfully. But an all-wise Father, "whose he was and whom he served" called him home and the summons came suddenly. Humanly speaking, there was heart failure, which baffled the skill of physicians and the ministrations of friends, loved ones and nurses. Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock a short service was held at the home, conducted by his pastor, Rev. Porter Hardy, of the Methodist church, assisted by Rev. A.C. Jordan of Boykins and Rev. E.F. Garner of Norfolk, both former pastors and warm personal friends of the deceased. The body was then taken to Beechwood Cemetery and buried with Masonic honors. Seventy-five Masons were present and the impressive Masonic ceremony was led by Mr. Jas. E. Sebrell of Courtland, D.D. Grand Master. Immense throngs of people from every section of the county, from North Carolina, and many from more distant points crowded the cemetery to pay the last tribute of respect to one whom they loved and honored. The floral designs were perhaps the handsomest and most numerous ever seen in this community. Conspicuous among them was a beautiful pall of sweet peas and maiden-hair ferns, given by his church and Sunday school. The pallbearers were: active, W. Herbert Britt, B.F. Britt, J.D. Ferguson, Dr. J. Bland, C.F. Carlton, C.T. Beaton, E.B. Prince and C.L. Ennes; honorary, Roger I. Beale, H.B. McLemore, Jas H. Corbitt, Judge J.L. McLemore, W.R. Sykes, J.B. Stephenson, E.B. Beaton, J.D. Hart, J.R. Hines, W.D Mannes, E.H. Grizzard, H.A. Moore, H.F. Knight, W.A. Powell, R.D. Knight, A.M. Williams, W.J. McKinstry, R.T. Andrews, J.R. Bryant, T.H. Barrett, A.L. Knight, N.T. Smith, S.H. Simmons, H.V. Thornton, B.P. Woodard, J.W. Fleetwood, A. M. White, J.L. Leavitt, S.B. Drewry, E.M. Hill, A.S. Francis, S.J. Myrick, E.R. Bryant, F.E. Pope, A.P. Minshew, W.J. Story, C.B. Rock, J.P. Darden and J.R. Person. Walter Wallace White was born and reared in Northampton County, N.C., the son of the late B.K. White. He had just passed his 56 birthday when he was taken sick. Coming to Boykins when he was 21 years of age he entered the mercantile business. In this as in all subsequent business enterprises he achieved marked success, and soon became prominent in the civic and commercial life of the town and community. He was an ardent advocate of temperance and threw his whole strength in the fight to free his town, county and state from the curse of the liquor traffic. In fact he was always in the forefront in every battle of right against wrong and his life and influence were felt in every moral issue. But to his church and his Master he ever gave his first and highest allegiance. His deep piety and loyal devotion to duty were recognized by his pastor and in his early manhood he was made superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school and a steward in the church, both of which positions he held at the time of his death. In his church and his denomination he was a recognized leader, liberal and charitable to an unusual degree, and giving of his time and his talents, as well as his substance. Perchance the secret of his success in temporal blessings was the fact that he took his Lord into partnership with him in business. No needy cause ever appealed to him in vain. He was his pastor’s own "strong arm" and one of his former pastors said of that no would ever know the number of people whom he had helped over hard places. He has gone to his reward, but his life and influence will be felt through succeeding generations. Such a man cannot die; he leaves the world richer and better for his having lived in it. He was married in 1891 to Miss Allie Moss of Boykins, who survives him, with one son, Walter Wallace White, and one daughter Miss Frances White, both of Boykins. Other immediate relatives are a stepmother, Mrs. Bettie White of Boykins, and three brothers, R.B. White of High Point, N.C., R.T. White of Conway, N.C. and J.J. White of Severn, N.C. Nowhere will he be missed as he will be missed in the home. He was a faithful, devoted husband, a kind and indulgent father, shielding his loved ones as far as possible from every care and sorrow and throwing around them the strong arm of his love, guidance and protection. Walter Wallace WHITE, Sr., Boykins businessman, b. Northampton County, NC, d. 5 Apr 1919, age 56, interred in Beechwood Cemetery (Annex 1, Section A, Plot 12*), Boykins, 7 Apr 1919, "The Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Apr. 11, 1919, p. 1] *Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project, Beechwood list: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/beechwd.txt Additional information: Walter W. White, 28, s, N.C., So.Co., s/o B.K. and Rhoda White, Merchant 05-20-1891 Boykins Baptist Church by Rev. Thomas J. Wray Allie D. Moss, 18, s, So.Co., So.Co., d/o Joseph R. and Bettie S. Moss (MB7:237; transcribed by Bruce Saunders; posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/vitals/mb07pt.txt) Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), and re-formatted by File Manager. file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/w300w1ob.txt