A.W. WHITE's Obituary
KATHLEEN –
Alfred Wantage “A.W.” White, Jr., 88, passed away peacefully late Friday night, April 19, 2024. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in the Chapel at Watson-Hunt Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m., and the Funeral will begin at 4:00 p.m. with Rev. Mason Davis and Rev. Sam Davis officiating. Interment in Woodlawn Cemetery will be private. Everybody, wear your denim - jeans, jacket, shirts. Mr. White always wore blue chambray shirts and jeans. In his memory, everyone is invited to do the same for the visitation and the service. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions to Georgia Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries, P. O. Box 329, Palmetto, Georgia 30268 or The Gideons International, P.O. Box 95, Cochran, GA 31014.
A.W. was born on June 3, 1935, in Kathleen to the late Alfred Wantage White, Sr., and the late Maggie Meadows White. A graduate of Perry High School, he was a lifelong resident and farmer of Houston County, planting and harvesting row crops and raising cattle. After working for Magee Carpet for a short time, he knew that his passion was farming, which he did for the rest of his life. In his early twenties, A.W. married the love of his life, Roselle Dunaway, and he would spend the remainder of her years caring for and providing for her and their family. Through the years, he could make and fix anything at all. He taught himself to do “things worth knowing” including welding, woodworking building furniture and kids’ toys, planting butterbeans with a mailbox and a bicycle tire contraption, revitalizing and expanding a lawnmower, and many other things to benefit and prosper his family. When Roselle’s eyesight began to fail her, A.W. modified her old appliances, so that they could continue to cook together making their famous pecan pies, chewey cakes, divinity, and other special treats. While she couldn’t see as well as in the past, she knew where the buttons and knobs were, which enabled her to cook without a great deal of assistance. This made their bond stronger, and A.W. was determined to care for her at home for as long as God allowed him. He enjoyed delivering the treats they made to friends and businesses in the Hawkinsville area. A.W.’s favorite time each year were the days spent with family and friends preparing fresh corn and butterbeans for the freezer. He always said Roselle was the “perfect farmer’s wife,” and he treasured every moment they were together until her passing just five months ago. He was a member and former deacon at the old Kathleen Baptist Church.
A.W. was preceded in death by his parents; his loving and faithful, Roselle Dunaway White; and two infant brothers.
Left to cherish the memories they made with their Daddy are his daughter and son-in-law, Lynn and Larry Garrett of Hawkinsville; his son, Wendel White of Fritz Creek, Alaska; and those who lovingly referred to him as Papa, his grandchildren, Ashley Porter (Jay) of Hawkinsville and David Garrett (Rachel) of Bishop; and his great-grandchildren, Georgia Lynn Porter, Tom Porter, and Sawyer Garrett.
A.W. was also loved by many others. His great-grandfather and cousins actually nicknamed him “Pete” early on, and his children’s friends and neighbors called him “Halfpa.” His own neighbors called him “Junior,” and A.W. was thankful to be called a Child of God. The strength and determination that God gave him permitted him to care for his beloved Roselle for sixty-six years.
Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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