Sarah Jane White

WHITE Sarah Jane White, 77, died September 19, 2009, at East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie. Jane was a well-respected medical technologist in New Orleans, and won numerous awards. She trained at Charity Hospital in the 1950s and made many friends there who took care of her when she was ill. She was chief med tech at Mercy Hospital for 30 years and instructor in medical technology at the LSU Medical Center. She worked in microbiology at the Veterans Administration Hospital until she retired in 2000. She was a member of Alpha Mu Tau, the national fraternity for the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. Jane was born on Jan. 4, 1932, in Greenwood, Miss., to Robert Allen White, who was born in Oxford, Miss., and Kate Alvis Wilson White, who was born in Vaiden, Miss. Jane grew up in Ruleville, Miss., and graduated from Ruleville High School. She received a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus and a master's degree from Central Michigan University. She was a member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Lakeview until Hurricane Katrina. She and her longtime companion, Waynette Norman, moved to Mandeville after their house on Nashville Avenue flooded. Jane joined First United Methodist Church in Covington and was a soprano in the choir. Her minister, the Rev. Byron Putnam, Ms. Norman, and Ann Mershon Buchel were with her when she died. She is survived by Ms. Norman; one sister, Ann White Dorrough of Ruleville; two nieces, Louann Dorrough of New Orleans and Kate D. Bailey of Terry, Miss.; one nephew, Robert Allen Dorrough of Osaka, Japan; a nephew-in-law, John Menszer of New Orleans; and three cousins, Betty Sue Moore of Oxford, Miss.; Jean Lindsey of Starkville, Miss.; and Henrietta Sampson of Oxford. She's also survived by many dear friends. Jane loved singing, playing in St. Luke's bell choir and going to New Orleans' many fine restaurants. She influenced her niece, Louann, to move here because she thought New Orleans was the most sophisticated city in America. Whenever she traveled, she took her Community Coffee with her. She thoroughly enjoyed living here and refused to leave, even during hurricanes. She said she survived Betsy, and that was good enough for her. She loved her dogs and she cherished her med tech friends from Charity and Mercy hospitals. Service on Friday, September 25, 2009, at 1:00 PM at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans. Interment will follow in All Saints Mausoleum. An additional memorial service will be held later at First United Methodist Church of Covington. The family invites you to share your thoughts, fond memories and condolences online at www.lakelawnmetairie.com.