Betty M. White, 85, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Sunday, April 30, 2017 at Pruitt Health in Ocilla.
Memorial services will be held 4 PM, Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at First Presbyterian Church in Fitzgerald with the Rev. Steve O’Neal officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.
Mrs. White was born July 30, 1931, in Sylvania, Georgia, to the late T.E. & Hazel Zeigler Mock. She was a graduate of Screven County High School and earned her Bachelor’s degree from Georgia Teachers College in Statesboro. She would later earn both her Master’s degree and Specialist degree from the University of Georgia. A lifelong educator, Mrs. White began her career as a 2nd grade teacher at Roanoke School. In 1969, she moved to Tallahassee, Florida where she began a pre-school program for the Leon County School System. She returned to Fitzgerald in 1971 and worked as a visiting teacher. Mrs. White worked as an Early Childhood Consultant with the Georgia Department of Education for many years and was instrumental in the genesis of many local pre-school programs across the state. Following her retirement from the DOE, she was hired as principal at Lynwood School and later transitioned to the central office as Associate Superintendent of Ben Hill County Schools. Her care in education lasted over 45 years. She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church.
She is survived by her children and their spouses: Thomas A. “Dude” & Mary Jane White and Ken & Cathy White, all of Fitzgerald; grandchildren: Alecia & Thomas Barrett, Allison & Brian Norris, Ben & Jana White, and Jennifer & Brent Brown; seven great-grandchildren; and a brother, David & Hazel Mock of Sylvania. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, D. Alec White and a sister, Dorothy Rowe.
The family suggests those desiring to send memorials may send them to First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 97, Fitzgerald, GA 31750.