Thomas E. White

RACINE - Thomas (Tom) Edward White Sr., 77, passed away on Thursday, May 21, 2015 at the Wheaton Franciscan All Saints Hospital in Racine, WI. Tom was born on April 25, 1938 in Dawson, Georgia to the late Henry and Queen Victoria Hagan White. Tom’s list of accomplishments was matched only by his humility and sense of humor. Tom was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as a chef until honorably discharge. He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in 1965 at Fort Valley State College and became a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. He did further studies at the University of Wisconsin (Parkside and Milwaukee). For 35 years he held the position of Executive Director of the Racine/Kenosha Community Action Agency and helped many citizens in the community. Previously, he was employed as a Soil and Water Conservationist with Racine County University Extension Service and later served as the Executive Director of the Project Breakthru Community Center (now, “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center”). Tom served as the President of the Wisconsin NAACP State Conferences of Branches for over 40 years, being elected every 2 years. He served three 4 year terms on the NAACP National Board of Directors, representing Region III of the association. During his years as State President, the WI Conference authored and published a state newsletter, which circulated throughout the association, and organized/hosted the first and most successful NAACP National Convention on record. He served on the board of directors for the Opportunity Industrialization Center (O.I.C); the Urban League of Racine/Kenosha, Inc.; the Racine Housing Authority, to name a few. Tom confessed Christ as his savior early in life, and was baptized for the remission of sins by the Macedonia Baptist Church in Parrott, GA, where he served as Superintendent of the Sunday School. In Racine, he united with the Second Missionary Baptist Church and served as Chairman of its Trustee Board. He was also a founder of the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, Racine, WI, served as Deacon, Chairman of the Trustee Board, and Co-Chairman of the church board. Tom leaves to cherish his memories, his wife of 39 years, Geraldine Edwards White, his son, Thomas E. White II, his two brothers, Lonzie L. (Sarah J.) White, Osie (Dr. Grace Turner) White, two sisters, Mary L. Blackshear and Louise W. Webb and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father and mother: Henry and Queen V. White, three sisters: Jessie Bell Crawford, Willie Bell Picket and Rushie Dean Beal. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday at the Wayman AME Church, 424 N. Memorial Drive, Racine, WI. Viewing will begin at 11:00 a.m. and Services at 12:00 noon. Reid’s New Golden Gate Funeral home and Cremation Services at 1910 Taylor Ave, Racine, WI 53403 is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to: 1420 N. Wisconsin Street, Racine, WI 53402, with checks payable to the NAACP ACT-SO Program, or to the family directly. Online donations can be made to ACT-SO at gofundme.com. Additional services will be held in his hometown of Parrott, GA on Saturday, May 30, 2015. Viewing: 10:00 a.m, Services: ll:00 a.m. with arrangements by the Albritten’s Funeral home, 395 Cedar Hill Ave. SE, Dawson, GA 39842.