Marian Ann Norman White

Mother Marian Ann Norman White “Granny” Mother Marian Ann Norman White was born on Labor Day, September 1, 1930 to the late Clara Z. Norman in New York City, NY, and reared by her grandparents, the late Ernest and Georgia Norman who were sharecroppers, working the fields in Hartwell County GA. Her family later moved to North Carolina where she attended Aggrey Memorial and Bear Poplar Schools. She became a member of Oakland Presbyterian Church, where she served as Sunday School Secretary. Marian had to abandon her aspirations of finishing High School when her great-grandmother became sick. This was undoubtedly where she learned to care for the sick and elderly down through the years. On December 17, 1950, Marian married her husband of 54 years, John Henry White, Sr. To this union were born nine children, three boys, Franklin J. White of Kent, Washington, Ronnie C. White (Beverly) of Charlotte and John H. White, Jr. of Denver, CO., six girls, Wanda D. Brown (Vonnie), Lisa D. Walker, Sandra L. Dillard (Jr. Deacon Jeffery Dillard), Marian G. Sutton, Roberta M. Mazingo (Deacon Reginald Mazingo), all of Charlotte and Jackie D. Locklear of Hopkinsville, KY. Marian and her husband began their lives together as sharecroppers in Rowan County, NC. She had hoped for children and after four years God smiled on her. Eventually the family settled in Charlotte where she later became a laborer and factory worker at Standard Textile Mills and Sewell Plastics/Constar where she retired in 2005. Marian had a “green-thumb” and loved tending flowers and gardening. She also loved learning and would wake the family on school days by knocking on doors and singing “School Time, School Time.” She was considered an excellent cook, known for her hospitality and resourcefulness. You were always welcome to her home and at her table. She was affectionately called “Granny,” by her family, friends and church family. Second to her love for God, was her love for family. She was a faithful wife who honored her husband as head of the family, and a loving but stern mother. Annual family reunions were the highlight of her summers and she attended faithfully until her health began to decline. After the death of her husband, Marian joined her daughters in worshipping the Lord in the “beauty of holiness” (Psalm 29:2). She added her name to the roll at Mt. Zion Church of God Holiness during the 2006 National Convention in Atlanta GA, was baptized, and never looked back. For the first time since her youth, she raised her hand to a new spiritual home and renewed faith in God and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. She would go on to serve on the Mother Board of the church, encouraging love for leadership, one another, and sincere service to God. Marian was preceded in death by her husband, John H. White, Sr., two brothers, Worley Norman, Sr. and Howard Norman, three grandchildren, Crystal Chole White, Derrick Sutton, Jr., and Samuel Omar Brown, Jr. In addition to her nine children, Marian leaves to cherish her memory, two sisters, Velma Durrett of Hartwell, GA and Lula Miller of Salisbury, NC. One brother-in-law, Billy Ray White, Sr. (Beatrice) of Mooresville, NC; 29 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great grandchildren. One special granddaughter, Ebbony Cherie White, was reared in her home; special friends, Mrs. Lucille Morrison, and Mother Elizabeth Bligen, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors, friends, and former co-workers.