Marjorie Cecile White's Obituary
Marjorie Cecile White, 88, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2024, at home in Camden, DE, with her beloved dog, Beau, in her lap and family members by her side. Marjorie was born on April 3, 1936, in Donaldsonville, LA on the family farm, daughter of the late Spurgeon Hall and Marjorie Eloise (Noel) Hall of Tupelo, MS.
Marjorie married Stanley White of Eagle Lake, TX on January 27, 1954, and subsequently moved to various Texas towns and cities including Corpus Christi, Wharton, Wink, and Austin. When Stanley joined the USAF in 1968, the family moved to Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS. While her husband served a remote tour in Taiwan, Marjorie opened and operated her own daycare business in Biloxi. After Stanley’s tour in Taiwan, the family was sent to Dover AFB, and Delaware became Marjorie’s true home.
While raising her five children, Marjorie returned to college and acquired her teaching degree from Delaware State College at the age of 42. She began her teaching career in the Caesar Rodney School District, teaching math at CR High School followed by many more years of teaching math, computer technology, and basic skills at CR Junior High School. She went on to obtain her M.S. in Education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1990, and then transitioned from classroom teacher to school counselor at Fifer Middle School. She obtained National Board Certification in Counseling which she maintained beyond her retirement in 2002. During her years in public education, she was an active member of the Caesar Rodney Education Association/Delaware State Education Association and served as a building rep for her colleagues.
After retirement, Marjorie brought her mother into her home and cared for her until her passing in 2005. She also volunteered with the Red Cross Disaster Relief Service and Delaware Hospice. Being fiercely independent, she would not hesitate to pack up her “B-Van” and take solo road trips, including a 54-day cross-country trip at the age of 70. She was an excellent cook and loved to have her family home for the holidays.
Marjorie was an active member of the New Harvest Baptist Church in Dover, DE, since its inception. Prior to New Harvest, she was an active member of First Southern Baptist Church in Dover, and also frequently attended London Village Baptist Chapel in Magnolia. Her faith was extremely important to her, and she always felt a calling toward mission work.
Marjorie is survived by her children: Daniel White (Leesa) of Halifax, Nova Scotia; Careljean Tennefoss (Mike) of Harrington; Cheryl Penick of San Marcos, Texas; Valerie Hoffmann (Mike) of Dover; and Tim White (Jennifer) of Magnolia. She is also survived by her sister, Ann Black, of Plano, Texas; her six grandchildren, her two great-grandchildren, and her many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Marjorie was preceded in death by her daughter, Catherine Faith White, and her sister, Lillian Wright.
Her family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Marjorie’s in-home care workers: Debbie Ellis, Holly Klaumenzer, Violet Williams, and dear family friend, Charles Stephens. Many thanks, also, to the CCU healthcare team at Bayhealth – Sussex Campus, who took exceptional care of Marjorie in her last week and helped to get her back home with support from Delaware Hospice.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 14, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at London Village Baptist Chapel, 568 Millchop Lane, Magnolia, DE. A luncheon will follow at a location to be determined. Interment will be held at a later date in Wharton, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the New Harvest Baptist Church Building Fund at P.O. Box 735, Dover, DE 19903; the Food Bank of DE at https://www.fbd.org/donate; or a charity of your choice.
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