Every family has a Story…

George White, who was born in slavery (exact date birth is not known) but believed that he was 122 years old when he died on February 24, 1922. If this is correct, we can calculate his birth as being in 1802. His mother was a Grim but he took the name of his master which was “White”.

George came to Jefferson Davis County from Lawrence County, There he and his family worked the farms and maintained a life as best they could in those times. he and his family worshipped at Spring Hill Missionary Baptist Church.

George was a craftsman, so during this time people made their own beds out of wood and mattresses out of hay and corn shucks with cotton mixed in. It is said that George’s beds were crafted so well that White people would come from all over to buy from him.

George was married twice. The name of his first wife is unknown. They had five children: Lucy White (married Ike Hall), Henry White (married Irnie Rhodes), Mark White (marries Eva Hartzog), Joe White (married Alice Newton), and Harry White (married Maggie Madison).

George second wife was Annie Sims and with this union, thirteen children were born: George White, Jr, (married Annie Magee), Smith White (married Jane Ross), Donald White (married Roberta Knight and someone by the name Flora -last name unknown), Wesley (died at a young age), John White (married Arlene Jones), Assie White (married a Reese - first name unknown) Frankie White (married Warner Bass), Nina White (married George Hawthorne), Julie White (married Porter Barnes), Mary White (married Sam Hartzog), Elsie Jane (married Will Ross), Lonnie White (married Ester Hall), and Hattie White (married Rudolph Ward).

This is where we began: Descendants of George White Jr. and Annie Magee White

George and Annie had 12 children…

  • William T. White

  • Robert V. White (died December 16, 1951)

  • Annie Jane White

  • Mary White (died November 1983)

  • Eddie White (died July 1918)

  • George White (died April 1936)

  • Elnora White (died in late 1950s)

  • Irene White (died October 1917)

  • Josie White (died in the 1980s)

  • Fred White (married Thelma Barnes) (died in 2005)

  • Vernell White (married Electrix White) (died on October 8, 1997)

  • Johnnie White (died at Birth July 24, 1922)

***Our history is still incomplete, if you have additional information (birth and death dates, correct names, etc.), please reach out and provide that info. We would love to have that history documented.