Lenora White

In Lenora's own words: I was born on February 13, 1941, to the late Lottie Bell and Luther Marrow in Union County, North Carolina. My grandmother, the late, Delia Sassafras, raised me until I came to Baltimore, Maryland in 1952 to live with my uncle Nathan Sassafras and his wife, Johnnie Ella. They were very active members in the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. In 1953, I was baptized by the Reverend J.H. Tunson and quickly joined the Junior Usher Board and the Junior Choir. Growing up in East Baltimore, I attended Carrolton Elementary School #139 and Paul Lawrence Dunbar Senior High School #133. As a teenager I sang with the school choir and with a group. My future husband, William White sang with a group and our two groups sang all round Baltimore City. William took me to my Junior and Senior Prom. I graduated from high school in 1959 and William and I married in 1960. From this union we had three sons Kenny, Greg and Eric. William went to work for Bethlehem Steel. After being a stay-at-home mom, I went to work for Bendix Corporation and Chesapeake Can Company until the relocated. I had some experience doing hair, so I decided to get my license and registered at Apex Beauty and Barber School. During the riots all the school's records were burned and destroyed. I went to Ron Thomas' beauty school and completed my hours. When I received my operator's license, I went to work at Mr. Baker's hair salon. I visited Mt. Calvary with my friend, Delores Newkirk and enjoyed it so much that I told my husband about it. The next Sunday William came with me and saw one of his friends in the pulpit. This friend told Pastor Farrow that William could sing, and he called him up to sing. The next Sunday we joined the Church and William, and I joined the gospel choir. William sang on the male chorus until he had a massive stroke. For two years I cared for my husband at home until I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I visited him everyday, and I would tell him, I must go praise the Lord for the both of us. The Lord spared him his three score and ten years and I thank God for the love we shared. We had a good life together. We had some bad days but thank God our good days outweighed the bad. We were blessed with three sons, Eric, Kenny and Greg (Rhonda), five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. We were married for 48 years. The bible says when Jesus sees me and I see him, I want him to recognize me, and I want to recognized him. I will serve him until I die. Yours truly, Deaconess Lenora White

Tributes

Lenora White

February 13, 1941 - February 13, 2024