Elder Charles Ray White

Mr. Charles Ray White fell asleep in Jesus on April 1, 2023 around 10:00 PM. at Good Shepherd Hospital in Marshall, Texas.

On January 1, 1944, Charles Ray White, a bouncing baby boy, was the first of six children to be born to Willie White and Isabella Dockery White of Stamps, Arkansas. He accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized into the Oak Grove Baptist Church in the community of Falcon, Arkansas. After graduating from high school in 1962 , he relocated to Los Angeles to live with relatives. One of his consuming interests was boxing. He obtained his professional Golden Glove boxing license advanced to heavy weight but decided to stop there. He later moved to Seattle, Washington, where he became employed by Boeing Aircraft Company. After studying the Bible for himself and discovering the Sabbath, he joined the Seventh Day Adventist Church and faithfully served until his death (42) years. He cherished opportunities to learn and challenged his mind. While working at Boeing, he attended night school and obtained a Bachelor or Art (BA) degree in Social Services.

There in Seattle he met and married the love of his life, Verneva Goss and they became the parents of three children, one boy and two girls. Later, they relocated south to Marshall, Texas. Charles became an insurance agent with Allstate Insurance Company and remained until he retired in 2002 and joined his wife in Real Estate sales. Together, they served the Marshall Community as “Town and Country Realty” from their office at 411 East Pinecrest Street until, due to his failing health, the office was closed in 2020.

Over the years his love for Christ grew and matured and his commitment manifested itself in exceptionally service to God. He was a Visionary. In church, he served as Sabbath School teacher, co-family life director, assistant treasurer, deacon and elder. He was eventually elected Head Elder (Assistant Pastor) of Emmanuel Seventh-day Adventist Church and served in that capacity for seventeen years. One of his major accomplishments in that position was his vision of a better facility for the church. So he implemented a building fund when no one else could see the possibility of a new facility. After several years, the vision caught on and as a miraculous result, the church moved from 610 Johnson to this present location here at 1101 Indian Springs Road.

His hobbies were gardening, fishing and talking about the love of God and His goodness.

He leaves to cherish his memories : His devoted wife of 41 years, Verneva Goss White; a son, Charles Ray White, Jr., of Antioch, California; two daughters, Naomi Faith White Chancy (Adam) of Rowlett Texas, and Allie Arnell White Copeland of Marshall, Texas; eight grandchildren, three great grandchildren; three sisters, Evelyn White Biddle, Gloria White Biddle and Dian White Perkins, all of Arkansas; two brothers, Will White, Jr., of Stamps, Arkansas and Bobby White of Tacoma, Washington; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins and his beloved church family.

Funeral Service for Elder Charles Ray White will be held Sunday, April 16, 2023, 11:00 AM at Emmanuel Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1101 Indian Springs Road, Marshall, Texas 75672. Visitation Saturday, April 15, 2023, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM at Black's Family Center, 2308 S. Washington, Marshall, Texas 75672. Interment Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Tenaha, Texas

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