DeWayne Lenell White

WHITE, DeWayne Lenell December 4, 2007. DeWayne was born on February 20, 1980 to Lenell White, Jr. and Sandra E. Ireland-White in Chicago, IL. He was the first born to this union. DeWayne was baptized at an early age on March 20, 1980 at St. Raphael Catholic Church. The first four years of his life, DeWayne grew up and lived at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. He then moved to Chicago, IL and lived in the Englewood community, where he was further nurtured by his stepfather, Chester L. Miller, Sr.. DeWayne attended St. Raphael Elementary School and then Curie High School. When the family moved to Country Club Hills during his senior year, DeWayne earned his GED and trained to be a welder through Job Corps. For the next few years, he worked a series of jobs in Tennessee, Kansas and the Southland. In November 2004, DeWayne joined the US Army, along with his brother, DeShaun. While stationed at Fort Campbell, KY, DeWayne seized the opportunity to attend Air Assault School. He served one tour in the country of Iraq from 2005 to 2006. He was deployed in September 2007 for his second tour of duty. It was during one of his military stints in Clarksville, TN, that DeWayne met Syneca Beach. He called home and told his mother that he had met the sunshine of his life and he knew that she was the one. They were joined in holy matrimony on February 25, 2007. DeWayne loved to dance, draw cartoons of hip-hop characters, play pool and his PlayStation (at all hours of the night). He loved to write poetry and rap. He adored the family's dog, a Rottweiler named Zeus. He also did a dead-on impression of Donald Duck. DeWayne was always willing to help others. At the age of 7, a neighbor gave him a dollar for being a good boy. He gave the money to charity, without any urging from adults, and told his mother it was because he wanted to help the children of Ethiopia. He maintained that spirit of giving while in Iraq. He always carried candy to pass out to the children. He loved to give, not receive. He was always happy and wanted to make every person happy, even little babies would smile and laugh at him. He is survived by his wife, Syneca; mother, Sandra; step-father, Chester L. Miller, Sr.; father, Lenell (Reneé) White, Jr.; brothers, DeShaun White, Edwin White and Chester Miller, Jr.; sisters, Nekita Miller, DéJaneé White and Kimberly (Korey) Miller-Highsmith; grandmother, Geneva White; grandfather, Paul Miller, Sr.; a very special niece, Jaida; and soon-to-arrive niece, Makailah; mother-in-law, Kova Thicklin; brother-in-law, Seth Beach; grandmother-in-law, Shirley Bluing; grandfather-in-law, Chester (Laurine) Thicklin; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives. A life committed to God, family, and country is the legacy he leaves to all. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, December 22, 2007 at 12 Noon, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 1112 Jefferson Street, Bishop Joseph Warren Walker III, Officiant. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Dr. Diane Greer Walker Memorial Scholarship Fund, 2275 Murfreesboro Road, Suite 100, Nashville, TN 37217. Courtesy of SMITH BROTHERS FUNERAL DIRECTORS, INC., 706 Monroe Street, Henry L. & Melvin J. Smith, Directors (615) 726-1476.