Mrs. White, born on September 28, 1928 in Winston-Salem, NC, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2018 in Pensacola, FL. She grew up in Charlotte, NC where she graduated from Central High School. She attended her beloved Women's College (WC), now known as the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Jewel married her childhood sweetheart and love of her life, James Rexford White, the day after she graduated from college. They were happily married for fifty-four years.

Jewel is survived by her children Judy Walker (Sabu Advani) of Pensacola, Wendy Kenney (Jim) of Charlotte, NC, Jim White (Andrea) of Houston, TX, Mark White (Jaye) of Fayetteville, NC, and Laura Foerster of Charleston, SC. She is also survived by her seven grandchildren, Jay, Will, Sally, Grace, Adam, Leah and Ruthie. They called her Memommy. Her husband Rex was Big Daddy, and together they were the perfect grandparents. Jewel was also the proud great-grandmother of Nancy James, May, Davis, Meares and Harry. She is also survived by her sister, Sylvia Buie Cleveland of Auburn, CA. Jewel was predeceased by her husband in 2003 and by her brother Reginald Julian Buie in 1952.

Jewel had a steadfast faith and dearly loved her church, First Presbyterian Church of Pensacola, where she faithfully served in many capacities. She had fond memories of serving as Elder, traveling on mission trips, ringing in the bell choir, teaching and leading Bible studies and Sunday School, and serving as a vital part of Presbyterian Women. If the doors of First Presbyterian Church were open, Jewel White was there!

Jewel was employed as a social worker for the state of Florida for many years, and it was true calling in her life. She fought diligently for the underserved of Pensacola. At the ripe old age of sixty-one, Jewel amazed her family when she received her Masters of Social Work degree from the University of West Florida, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She was instrumental in the founding and organization of United Ministries and Manna Food Bank of Pensacola, which continue to serve and help those who are struggling to feed their families. In her spare time, Jewel was a beautiful knitter, an accomplished seamstress, and an avid gardener. She also loved to play the piano and read her latest selections from the public library. Her fine cooking and hospitality were enjoyed by her family and friends all her life.

The family would like to offer their heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful people at Clarity Pointe Pensacola and Emerald Coast Hospice who treated their mother with tender loving care, compassion and dignity.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 14 at 3:00 at First Presbyterian Church of Pensacola. The family will receive friends after the service. Memorials may be sent to Manna Food Pantries, 3030 North E Street, Pensacola, FL 32501 or www.mannahelps.org or to First Presbyterian Church, 33 E. Gregory Street, Pensacola, FL 32502.