Gladys M. White

OBITUARY  -  GLADYS MAE WHITE

Gladys Mae White was born May 1, 1926, in Onley, Accomack County, Virginia to the late Dorsey Snead and Cynthia Gibbs Snead. At an early age she was baptized at Grace Mary Tabernacle, and it was at this time that she began her journey to meet her Lord. Her early education took place at Marion Smith High School, in Accomack County, where she excelled as a student and was accepted to Delaware State Teachers College in Dover, Delaware. However, her education was interrupted by World War II, and she had to return to her family farm to help with the sharecropping business.

At the end of the war, she met John F. White, and on January 9, 1946, they were married in Onancock, Virginia. From this union their two children were born, Arnold White, Sr., and Darrell F. White. The marriage of Gladys and John lasted for fifty years and three days. Their love for each other continued even after his passing on January 12, 1996.

Gladys excelled in three areas: her church, her education, and her vocation. She joined St. Paul Tabernacle United Holiness Church in Philadelphia 1950, currently pastored by her nephew, The Reverend Robert Thurston Hyman, where she served as a Trustee, Deaconess, Missionary, and was the mother of the church. For the last 33 years she also maintained an additional relationship with the Meeting Place (formerly Mt. Zion Pentecostal Faith Church) pastored by a second nephew, Bishop Leroy E. Long. This unwavering loyalty to family was apparent to all who knew her and even translated into her commitment to attend worship service in these two churches, pastored by two different nephews, EVERY Sunday. Once back home on Sunday, and full from the morning and afternoon services, she said she was “free to collapse.”

She started her vocation working at Temple University, machine buffering floors as well as anyone, and after six years she became the shop steward and president of the Brotherhood of University Employees (BUE Local 612). She was such a great negotiator that Temple University hired Gladys as a supervisor in the housekeeping department. She created the schedules for the dorms and thereafter moved up to superintendent of housekeeping and housing for the University (second in command). She worked for Temple University for a total of sixty years and was the matriarch of housing for the university.

Gladys was a dedicated mother to her two sons and a niece whom she raised, as well a loving caregiver to her husband who became disabled in 1960. She often worked two jobs to make ends meet while maintaining a warm and welcoming home. The joy of her life was witnessing her two sons receive their college degrees and becoming meaningful contributors to society. She loved her family and thrived on knowing every name of her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.   She also did her civic duty by serving on the Election Board for 23 years.

Leaving to share fond memories are her two sons, Arnold White, Sr., and Darrell F. White (Lisel); five grandchildren, Dara Rimes, Arnold White Jr. (Cassandra), Salina Crayton (Phillip), Steven Blackstone II (Wendy) and Elise White; one brother, Apostle Joseph G. Snead (Naomi); one sister Jane Allen (Joseph); one sister-in-law, Mary Jones; devoted God-Daughter Karen Wood (Mike) eleven great grandchildren, Jaden, Destinie, Arnold III, Malika, Markeisha, Cynthia (Maurice),  Jamar, Samara, Sulé, Hannah and Bryce; two great-great grandchildren Nasir, and Abdullah-Saeed a host of multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, Temple Alumni and caregivers, she was a mother to all.

Submitted With Love,

The Family    

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