Barbara White

1943 - 2019

White
A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Dr. Barbara Williams White, loving mother, grandmother and sister will be held 11 AM, TODAY, July 30, 2019 at The Bethel Church, 215 Bethel Baptist St., Bishop Rudolph W. McKissick, Jr., Senior Pastor, Bishop Rudolph W. McKissick, Sr., Pastor Emeritus, officiating(where Sorority Rites will begin at 10 AM, TODAY). Dr. White passed away peacefully on July 19, 2019, at her home surrounded by her family. She was the eldest of three girls born to the late Ernestine Cliett Austin and her husband Willie Austin. She was raised in Jacksonville and was educated in the Duval County public schools, graduating from New Stanton Senior High School-Class of 1960. Furthering her education at Florida A&M University(FAMU), where she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Fraternity; White and Gold Honor Society; and elected Miss Florida A&M University 1963-64, she was awarded the Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Music Education. Additionally, she received a Bachelor of Science in Social Work (summa cum laude); a Master of Social Work; and a Doctor of Philosophy from Florida State University (FSU). Later, she served as associate dean at the FSU College of Social Work, where she also directed the master's degree program and received a University Teaching Excellence Award. She raised her family in Tallahassee, Florida, where she was a member of St Michael's and All Angele Episcopal Church and an active member of Links, Incorporated before she relocated to Austin, Texas. She was appointed the first African American dean in the University of Texas at Austin in its history. For her hard work and tireless effort, she was awarded the University's Presidential Citation in 2012-the highest University Award. Her work catapulted the school into a nationally recognized position of leadership. Upon her retirement in 2011, Barbara was named dean emeritus in honor of her outstanding 18 years of leadership and a distinguished career, where she oversaw the education and training of thousands of social workers, contributed to the knowledge of many more through scholarship; she led with compassion and integrity. Barbara was an accomplished scholar in the areas of cultural diversity, women studies and domestic violence. She was actively involved in social work education and was the only person in her profession to hold the presidencies of both the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). She was also very active in community service, serving on boards of many organizations. In addition to her parents, Dr. White was preceded in death by her sister, Cassandra Lynette Austin. Survivors include her devoted daughters, Tonja White Mathews (Raymond, Jr.) and Phaedra White Abbott (Patrick), and their father, Dr. Julian E. White; sister, Claudette Austin Gibbs (Leroy); grandchildren, John Julian Burt and Mallory Michelle Mathews; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, colleagues, and special friends-of-the-heart. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC VIEWING. Friends are asked to assemble at the church under the direction of ALPHONSO WEST MORTUARY, INC., 4409 Soutel Dr., 904-766-9671.
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