Shirley W. White peacefully completed her earthly journey on the fourth Monday of January of 2021 on course to receive her highly deserved rest and heavenly reward. Loved ones witnessed the grace and humility with which she endured a series of illnesses over the course of several months spanning most of 2020. She reached her passing in the peace and comfort of her lifetime home in Kernersville, N. C.

Ms. White was the third child of seven children from the union of Reverend and Mrs. Garland L. Warren of Kernersville. She was born on Sunday the 28th of September in 1941. Her mother Mrs. Lucille Chambers Warren preceded her in May of 2019 and earlier her father the late Reverend Garland L. Warren in April of 1984. In 2005 she was preceded by her husband and father of her children, Reginald J. White, Sr. She earlier suffered the loss of three younger brothers, those being Aaron D. Warren of Walkertown, N. C. and Walter R. "Reggie" Warren of High Point, N.C., and Gary M. "Bones" Warren of Kernersville. Her oldest brother Ronald L. "Ronnie" Warren preceded her in 2012.

Ms. White is survived today by her four children including her daughter, Shannon White Goins (Hiram) of Kernersville, N. C., and her three sons, Pastor Ashley S. White of Madison, N. C. , Sergio S. White (Sandra) of Winston-Salem and Reginald J. White, Jr. (Angela) of the home. Shirley is blessed to be survived as well by 13 grandchildren including grandsons, Quinton White of Montgomery, Ala., Ashad Lindsay of Winston-Salem, Paxton White of Tobaccoville, and Keldon White of Kernersville and granddaughters, Alexis White of Montgomery, Ala., Ashley White, and Tacor Valentine, Jalisa Workman and 11 great-grandchildren.

Also surviving Shirley is her older sister, Sylvia F. Brooks of Kernersville and her youngest brother, Malcolm N. "Mack" Warren, and a sister-in-law, Betty Warren of Winston-Salem. Her memory and legacy is further preserved by surviving nieces including, Patrice "Penny" West and Latonia "Toni" King (Spencer), Susan Smith of Kernersville and Marquie Moser, Robin Warren, Reagan Warren, April Warren, Crystal Warren, Brittany Warren, Tiffany Warren and Ciara Warren of Winston-Salem and Shanaya Cecil of Charlotte, N.C. and her nephews, Gary Michael Warren, Jr., Travis C. Warren, and Jacoby Cecil of Winston-Salem.

Among other close relatives remaining to keep watch on Shirley's memory include many cousins, Gwendolyn Bell of Durham, N.C., Phyllis McNeil of High Point, N.C., Gaylia Jones, Jennifer Huff, Deborah Watson, Donnie Warren and Alecia Harvey of Winston-Salem, Cynthia C. Warren of Greensboro, N.C.,  Fredrick Warren of Charlotte, N.C., Billy Warren of Pittsburgh, PA., and Carl Chambers of San Francisco, CA.

Ms. Shirley White was raised in and lived in the historically black community in Kernersville, N.C. where both of her parents were also raised. She is a product of a community where a village was involved in raising her and where family and neighbors loved God, worked hard and took care of one another. The climate of closeness among neighboring families remained a factor throughout her life and remains as part of a legacy that has been passed on to her children and surviving family members. It was in this tradition that Ms. White became baptized and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior when she joined the Saint Paul United Methodist Church in her community as a young girl of 12 years of age. She remained an active member with the church until the onset of declining health and even then, continued to support the church through her prayers, support and giving.

During her time as an active member of Saint Paul she served in multiple capacities. Among which involved her work with youth education through Sunday School classes, Vacation Bible School and Youth Choirs, Methodist Women's' Fellowship, and Communion Ministry. She served for many years as Church Secretary and other administrative roles such as with Pastor and Parrish Relations.

Shirley began her education earlier than typical for her time at the age of 4 when she was sent to the Colored Community School in Kernersville with her siblings. She graduated from Carver High School at age 15 and some months in 1958. She began higher education at age 16 upon entering Winston-Salem Teachers College to graduation at age 19 with her Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education. She later followed what had become a family tradition and began a career as an elementary school teacher serving her first year teaching role in the State of New Jersey. Ms. White would spend the next nearly 38 years of her work in the elementary education field, mostly teaching fourth graders in Winston-Salem & Forsyth County Schools with one year in Charlotte City Schools. During the 1975-1976 school session she was named Teacher of the Year in Winston-Salem & Forsyth Co. Schools . Concurrent to her career she earned a Master of Arts in Elementary Education through coursework at N. C. A & T State University.

Over the years of her teaching career she accomplished much in and out of the classroom, an assertion to which those who witnessed her life can attest. For they may say that as an elementary school teacher she influenced the course of history by shaping the minds of many thousands of children and families they would produce. Along the course of her life and career she produced a legacy that will long outlast her earthly life. Now, our Lord can say well done my daughter, as will her loved ones who await her there in heaven.

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm Monday, February 1, 2021 at Russell Funeral Home.

Private services will be held Tuesday, February 2, 2021. The service will be live streamed on the Russell Funeral Home Facebook page beginning at 12:00noon Tuesday.