John Clarence White, Jr.

John Clarence White Jr. (Jay) began his life in Heaven on May 21, 2022, after courageously fighting Cancer. In 2019, he experienced a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis) in his left leg which prevented him from his daily cycling routine. Because of this, he began experiencing Parkinson’s Disease symptoms despite never having this diagnosis; however, in February of 2020, doctors diagnosed him with Parkinson’s, and later that year stage 4 cancer.

Jay was preceded in death by his grandparents Clarence Henry White and Mrytle Agnes Burns, Lem Benton Bryd and Bertha Ann Thames, and his loving parents John Clarence White Sr. and Sudie Elizabeth Byrd White of Florence, Mississippi. 

He is survived by wife Hilda Benson White of 42 years, daughters Marlena Elizabeth McKay (Warren), Misty Lenora Whitehead (Dustin) and Johnna Kay White (DeVonte), and 5 grandchildren John Warren McKay (11), Boyd Benson McKay (7), Elis Thornton McKay (5), Bailey Rose Whitehead (6), and Harrison James Whitehead (2), and sister Johnnie Sue Butler of Richland and her daughter Denise Butler Mills and sister Dorothy Jane Danielson of Florence and her daughter Sharon Danielson Fargo and many more nieces and nephews. 

Jay was born at the Baptist Hospital in Jackson on November 25, 1946. He was raised in Florence where he enjoyed small town life and had many friends. During high school, Jay lettered in varsity baseball and basketball for three years, and he was the basketball team captain his senior year. Jay was a member of the FFA and selected as Most Courteous and Most Dependable by his peers. After graduating from Florence High School in 1964, Jay attended Clarke Jr. College where he played baseball, basketball, served as BSU President and was chosen as Mr. Clarke Jr. College in 1966. He transferred to Mississippi College where he continued playing baseball while earning his BS Degree in Education. Upon graduating from MC in 1969, Jay accepted his first position as a physical education teacher at Richland Elementary. He would later return to MC to earn his Master’s in 1980.

Jay devoted his entire teaching career of 34 years to the children of Rankin County, his home. During his career, he taught at five different schools: Richland Elementary, McLaurin Junior High, Florence High School, and Pisgah Elementary and High Schools. He taught history, physical education, driver’s education, and coached various sports allowing him to share his passion for sports with many student-athletes. These sports include basketball, track, softball, and more.

Jay ended his career at Pisgah High School where he taught P.E. and served as the transportation director. While there, he was instrumental in forming the bowling team and assisted his wife Hilda, who was the school librarian, in transforming the tennis team into a competitive program, one in which his daughter Johnna participated. His final year of teaching was very special as he not only worked with his wife but also his eldest daughter Beth who began her teaching career that year at Pisgah.

Jay’s passions moved beyond coaching and teaching; he was a life-long cyclist. After retirement, he participated in the Senior Olympics. He and Hilda enjoyed traveling throughout the southeast for cycling competitions, and he cherished training with his cycling friends, often riding 40 to 50 miles daily through his early seventies. Jay not only loved the physical endurance afforded by cycling but also experiencing the beauty of nature. Jay loved anything that allowed him to be outdoors—hunting, fishing, gardening, cutting grass. 

In addition to his athleticism, Jay had an artistic side. He had a beautiful voice; he not only used it to worship God but also to bring enjoyment and happiness to his wife and daughters. He was creative and wrote beautiful poetry, often gifting them to those he most loved. Before his death, he wrote and copyrighted the lyrics to a Christian song he allowed his daughters to title “I Love You So.”

God not only inspired his music but all aspects of his life. All knew Jay as a good, honest, Christian man; raised in a Christian home, Jay’s love of God began at an early age and continued as he grew older. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Florence where he sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, and served as a deacon. Jay found great joy in serving God with his musical talents and through mission work, both passions that he passed to his daughter Misty. After moving to Fannin, he and his family joined the First Baptist Church of Fannin where he continued serving God as he was called to do. 

Jay was the most loving and supportive husband, father, son, and brother; a caring neighbor; and a helping hand to anyone in need. His love for God was evident in how he served others. To know Jay was to be blessed, and he will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by those left behind.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 24^th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Chancellor Funeral Home in Florence, MS. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, May 25^th at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, his family requests for donations to be made to the benevolence fund at the First Baptist Church in Florence, First Baptist Church of Fannin, or the Florence Community Cemetery fund.