James (Tom Or Tommy) White

James Thomas ("Tom" or "Tommy") White died on August 2, 2021. He loved well. What better thing can be said of a man. Born in Deemer, MS and moved to Meridian, MS; grew up in Oakland Heights; he attended Meridian High School (Class of '57) and later went to Ole Miss on a football scholarship. Being part of the Meridian HS baseball and football teams were foundational for him as was his time at Ole Miss. Stories about those days were told for 50+ years afterward. If you were part of those teams, you were never forgotten and were always carried close.
Upon graduation from Ole Miss, he served in the Air National Guard in a TAC recon group for about six years and then took a job with Chevron Oil. He married the love of his life, Sylvia Ann Clark, in 1970. They lived in MS and then followed a job with Chevron to TN, first to Chattanooga and then on to Knoxville where they settled. But they were never far from their Meridian roots and went "home" as much as possible. In Knoxville, they raised their two daughters, and were active members of Central Baptist Bearden Church—singing in the adult choir with people they considered family, were part of a long standing Sunday school class that supported them without fail, and where Tom served as Deacon (receiving Deacon for Life designation).
We celebrate a life well lived and a father, husband, son, and friend who put others first and always had a positive outlook. His daughters: Virginia White Carter (Brett) and Allison White Little (Jason); His grandchildren: Ella, Libby and Andy Carter and Hudson, Maddox, and Sarah Katherine Little along with extended family.
Preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sylvia Ann Clark; his mother, Sybil Spivey White; his father, William Thomas White and step-mother, Emma Dean White.
Honorary pallbearers: the Meridian HS football and baseball teams, his Ole Miss teammates, and the men in Knoxville that carried him through the long term illness of his wife, his Sami's breakfast group.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name, to Part the Cloud at the Alzheimer's Association either online at alz.org/partthecloud or via mail at 2290 N. 1st Street, Suite 101, San Jose, CA 95131.
Burial and graveside service in Meridian, MS, on Saturday, August 7th at 3PM. Celebration of life to be planned for Knoxville, TN.