Durward  Fred White

Published 4:28 pm Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Funeral Services for Durward Fred White, age 84, of Picayune, Miss., who passed away Friday, July 12, 2024, will be held at a date to be determined, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Picayune, Miss.

Arrangements are under the direction of McDonald Funeral Home.

On Sunday, Oct. 15, 1938 at Athens General Hospital, Miriam Ruth Nash White, a Freshman at the University of Georgia and Durward Jessie White a student at Athens Business College, became the proud parents of Durward Fred White.  This child’s parents lived with Miriam’s widowed Mother and unmarried older sister for most of the next 15 years.  During that time they continued their education, began careers, served in the military and became a vital part of their community and church.

Durward Fred was known as Freddy.  Freddy was immersed in a rich family life and tradition, with many generations of family living nearby and part of his daily activity.  In addition to family, much of his life involved church activities.  Freddy lived a blessed youth.

In 1954, Freddy’s parents moved to Bradenton, Fla. to take over a Tom’s Peanut Co. distributorship.  Freddy became Fred at his new high school and church.  Fred became active in all aspects of life in Bradenton, including working a delivery route for his Dad, advertising manager for the school newspaper and president of the church youth group.  Fred also worked other jobs during summer break including grocery stock clerk and appliance delivery and installation.

Fred left Bradenton when he enrolled at the University of Florida, he was not motivated to continue a structured education.  Fred joined the USAF.  Following completion of Technical School training, Fred was sent back to Florida.  Eventually Fred was sent to California to support a flight test program near Edwards AFB.  While there, Fred was introduced to Suzanne Butler Scott at a church ice cream social sending local students off to college.  Fred and Suzanne began a long-distance courtship while Suzanne studied at San Jose State College.  Suzanne & Fred were married in Lancaster, CA on Dec. 27, 1961 and started their life together at Eglin AFB, Fla.  Fred applied for Officer Candidate School and was accepted.  Within a short time at OCS, Fred realized that Military life was not a good fit.

Fred began a path of exploration and immersion into a very diverse and unstructured variety of occupations and fields of study including; Information Technology, Insurance, Law, and Real Estate Brokerage.  Fred ultimately settled into a career as a civilian employee of the US Navy as an IT Project Manager until he retired in 2005. During retirement, Fred remained active in a variety of community and church activities.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Durward Jessie White and Miriam Ruth Nash White.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of nearly 63 years, Suzanne; daughter, Anastasia; granddaughter, Brittaney (Christian) Burns; great-grandson, Greyson Richard Burns; sisters, Miriam Ruth (Laird) McAneny, Patricia (Mark) Shaurette; brother, David (Anne) White; aunt, Dell White Tayler; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.