Jimmie Sue White's Obituary
Jimmie White Obituary
Jimmie Sue Harris was born June 11, 1933 in Rutledge, Alabama, to the late Earlie and Lula (Cook) Harris. She received her Christian education at an early age at St. James and Little Baptist Hill Church, Crenshaw County Alabama. To family and friends, Jimmie Sue was affectionately called Jimmie or Sue. She graduated from Crenshaw County Training School in Luverne, Alabama. After graduating from high school she married Jeffie E. White, Jr. (Bubba), and relocated to Elyria, Ohio. God blessed this union with four lovely daughters.Jeff and Jimmie Sue joined Jones Chapel AME Church (Elyria) where she was appointed youth director. She also created and organized annual church fundraisers, the Garden Party, (held at their home yearly) and fashion shows. The family later moved to Oberlin, Ohio. Jimmie Sue and daughters became members of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Oberlin, where she was a youth leader and contributing member of the Centennial Committee.Jimmie Sues passion for education and youth, led her to employment in the Oberlin Public School system. She was a leader in the local Girl Scout troop and volunteered at her daughters schools. Constantly concerned about the plight of youth in the community, she created a baseball field, Sumners Field, located in their Sumner Street neighborhood in Oberlin. She served as Chief Executive Officer, and founder of the Odyssey Cultural Center, Incorporated, an African American museum, in Oberlin. She was the proud entrepreneur of Jimmies Antiques and Collectibles, a specialty shop, located in downtown Oberlin. Jimmie Sue loved creating hats, and therefore attended JoAnnes Millinery School in Cleveland, Ohio. Also, she earned an Associates Degree from Lorain County Community College and a Bachelors degree in Studio Art and African American Studies from Oberlin College. She was an author, poet and artist, and self- published two books of poetry: The Numerals Satirized and Selected Poems, and The Alphabet Satirized and Selected Poems. Jimmie Sue was the first African American exhibitor at Allen Art Museum, Oberlin College. Her artwork is currently on display at Welcome Nursing Home (Oberlin).Over the years, Jimmie Sue was a member of several organizations in the community; National Association of Negro Business, Professional Womens Clubs, Inc., the NAACP, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Lorain County Round Table. She also served as a member of the Academic Reading Committee at the Lorain County Joint Vocational School. She was nominated to receive recognition for her contributions to the Oberlin community, and Whos Who Among Ohio Women of Achievement. She has been honored for her visual arts program in the Oberlin Public School System and surrounding communities, by the Lorain Y.W.C.A., and the Black Business and Professional Womens Club. The Kanasia House (Elyria) awarded Jimmie Sue Woman of the Year. October 2013 she received the Humanitarian Award at the True Light Image Honorarium Ceremony, Almighty Church (Beulah Farm) of Oberlin. Jimmie Sue was a former member of the Sedona Chapter #69 Eastern Stars of Elyria.Those who will miss her dearly are daughters, Denise White Fields of Brunswick, GA, Rosiland White Lane of Oberlin, OH, Therese White Bowen of Jonesboro, GA, Regina White (Sam) Muldrew of Douglasville, GA; grandchildren, Adia S. Fields of Atlanta, GA, Carl U. Bowen of Jonesboro, GA, Randolph J. B. Fields of Saga, Japan, Rudolph T. (Jenarda) Bowen, II, of Omaha, NE, Jordon C. Bowen of Jonesboro, GA and Lukas L. Hill of Douglasville, GA; three sisters, Gladys Lowery of Chicago, IL, Jennie V. (Hollis) Perry, of Buffalo, NY, Katherine Johnson, of Arverne, NY, one brother, Willie (Nellie) Harris of Luverne, Alabama, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Jeffie E. White, Jr., parents Earlie and Lula Harris; granddaughter Shaniqua White, a sister Verla Williams and brothers, L.J. Harris and Cleveland Harris.Friends will be received Friday, November 8, 2013 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 185 So. Pleasant St., Oberlin, OH 44074. Visitation will also be Saturday, November 9, 2013 from 11a.m. until the time of a noon service in the church with Reverend Fred L. Bell, pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church officiating and Reverend Dr. David Hopewell delivering eulogy. Burial will be in New Russia Township Cemetery. Dicken Funeral Home, Elyria is in care of arrangements. For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.com
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