Mervin White

Mervin Forrest White, 86, passed away Sunday, April 11, 2021 at the Cottingham Hospice House after battling pancreatic cancer.

Born in Highland Home, Alabama, he was the son of the late Orden and Elma Lee Ward White.

Mervin proudly served his country with the United States Air Force 7th Air Police Squadron. He would go on to earn both his bachelor’s and master’s from BYU, and his PhD from the University of Kentucky. As a professor, he taught Sociology at Washington State University and Clemson University, eventually retiring from Clemson University. He was also a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where he served in many leadership positions. One of his passions was counselling people without charge, a practice he continued until his passing.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Bishop White, and his sisters, Irene Stewart and Stella Gillion.

Mervin is survived by his daughter, Kristen (Matthew) Walters; his grandchildren, Hannah, Maerin, Kelsey, & Liam Walters and Haley Sammons; and his sisters, Lucille (Arvile) Kelley, Doris Arensmeyer, and Wilonese (Terry) Lowe.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 AM Friday, April 16th, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Seneca, SC. A viewing will be held on Thursday, April 15th, from 6 - 7:30 PM at Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home in Central, SC.

A Graveside service will be held at 1 PM Monday, April 19th, in Sardis Cemetery in Highland Home, Alabama.

The Family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the wonderful caregivers at Prisma Health Hospice of the Foothills/Cottingham House for their amazing love and care for Mervin.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Prisma Health Hospice of the Foothills, 390 Keowee School Rd. Seneca, SC 29672 or a charity of your choice.