Rev. Oliver Phalen White Sr.

Rev. Oliver Phalen White Sr., 70, of Holly Springs, died Feb. 20, 2017, at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. The widower of Celestine Sanford White, he was a member of St. Paul CME Church, a retired pastor from Bethlehem CME Church in Etta, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., a former football and basketball coach, a bus driver, a comedian, a retired administrator of NYSP and a 50-year alumnus of Rust College. He was a retired school teacher for the Holly Springs School District.

Services were held at 10 a.m. on Feb. 25 at Rust College, Doxey Auditorium, with burial in Charity Hill Cemetery in Lake Center. J.F. Brittenum and Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

He leaves a daughter, Katina White Bryant of Olive Branch; four sons, Oliver Phalen White Jr., Bruce Lee White of Jackson, Travis Daniel White, James Earl White of Holly Springs; a sister, Rev. Agnes M. Henderson of Memphis, Tenn.; two brothers, Bruce Vernon White Jr., Clark Edward White Sr. of Memphis; and 11 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Evelyn Benita Henry, Janis Jean White, and two brothers, William Lee White Sr. and Elbert Bernard White.