Sharon "Sherry" Paulette White

Sharon White was born in Baltimore, Maryland on July 29th, 1945 to parents William Robert Long and Eva Mae Jones.

Her sister Karen, was born.

Graduated from High School.

Married Arthur White.

Gave birth to her first daughter, Carri in White Plains, New York.

Gave birth to her second daughter, Tracy in Pittsburg, PA.

She was the first to use the Lamaze technique in that hospital.

Gave birth to her third daughter, Kimbery in Anaheim, CA.

Divorced and eventually moved from Southern California to Portland, Oregon where she pretty much remained.

Helped Carri to welcome her first grandchild, Shawn into the world.

Started working as a temp for what is now called Dex media, the yellow pages.

She worked in "space and trade" and went on to become a graphic artist / designer.

She celebrated her 20 year anniversary September 2008.

As she put it, she was forced into retirement December 2008.

Helped Carri to welcome her second grandchild, Heather into the world.

Helped Kim to welcome her third grandchild, Bret into the world.

Helped Tracy to welcome her fourth grandchild, Leslie into the world.

Got full custody of her grandson Bret, who she lovingly raised and supported til her death.

Her very last day of working for Dex, as she was forced into retirement.

She was able to spend the last year plus one month of her life 'retired'. Yet, she still tried looking for work.

It allowed her time to relax and spend time with family, which she treasured.

I am very thankful she had this time.

Passed away on January 13, 2010.

Her Memorial Service

 

"On Wednesday, January 13th, our beloved Mother, Sherry White, passed away unexpectedly.

Sherry White, was born Sharon Paulette Long in Baltimore, Maryland on July 29, 1945, the day before her Daddy's 23rd birthday.

She is survived by her daughters: Carri, Tracy and Kimberly. By her grandchildren: Shawn, Heather, Bret, Leslie, Emmitt and Desiray.

Her great granddaughter: Carrisa. And by her feline children Kiki, Bobbie, Buffy, Mr. B and Baby and her dog Nilla.

 

My Mom worked for Dex Media as a Graphics designer for 20 years, where she first started as a temp. She was also a proud union steward. In December of 2008 she was, as she put it, forced into retirement, although she did continue to look for work. Even though my Mom didn't see it as a good thing, I now am so thankful she was forced into retirement. It enabled her to spend the last 13 months of her life relaxing more and spending more time with her family.

 

Over the years she had several different jobs, ranging from working at Macy's in New York to being a typist in Southern California.

 

She was also a writer. She briefly went back to college when my sisters and I were little. She wrote for their magazine and even interviewed Jim Dandy, from Black Oak Arkansas. Also when we were kids, my mom and her friend wrote a novel. It never was published, as apparently my sisters and I destroyed the papers. I don't remember doing it but I'm sure it was just kids being careless. I have felt much guilt about it as an adult.

I would love to read that novel now. Here n there she tried picking up writing again, but life kept getting in the way. Never enough time. But she often talked about writing again.

 

A fond memory I have of her is when she was doing freelance typing. She would type up reports and things for college students and she would go there to drop off or pick up new jobs. One time I got to go with her all by myself. I have no idea where Kim and Carri were, I didn't care. I had Mom all

to myself. I even remember she was playin her Ac/Dc - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap tape. We went to the school dropped off papers, picked more up, then drove home. We stopped at a Denny's where we had lunch. Just me and her! It was such a thrill! I had all of Mom's wonderful, fun attention and didn't have to contend with my bratty sisters. That memory will always be one of my favorites.

 

She lived for her family. Her children and grandchildren were her life. She was the most wonderful mother a person could ever ask for. She was very warm, loving and affectionate. She was someone I leaned on, and knew if I wanted the truth and sound advice, or ever needed anything to go to her.

She would and did, do anything for her children and grandchildren. She worked hard and got custody of her grandson Bret who she raised until her passing.

 

She had a very close and special relationship with all 3 of her daughters, we all considered her a best friend.

 

One of the things I loved and will greatly miss about her is her wonderful and goofy sense of humor, which I thank her for handing down to me.

Her nicknames for me were her miracle baby, her She-ra and Smartass, which I loved. She totally got my sense of humor as I did hers. I always seemed to make her laugh and I just loved that, she got me. My Mom, being a Mom would often ask me, what I thought were silly questions. Like "What's Leslie doing?" I tell her playing outside. She'd asked "Is she wearing a jacket ...or shoes." I'd reply in my usual way: "No mom, she's out there barefoot and/or naked playing near the street by a broken bottle." She'd laugh right away and just say "Tracy!". She knew that I of course had a jacket and shoes on Leslie, but she just couldn't help herself, she couldn't help being a Mom. And I got that, and appreciated it. And I find myself doing the same thing with my daughter.

I told Leslie just wait, when you and Carrisa have kids, I'll be doing the same thing.

 

I want to thank her for her love of music, mainly rock and passing that onto me. I have many memories of playin mom's records and staring at the album art to albums like

The Wall, The White album, Queen's News Of The World, several Stones albums, Iron Butterfly and even Tom Jones and so on. She went with me to my very first concert: George Thorogood. What an awesome show that was, we both enjoyed it and I'm so glad I got to enjoy it with her.

 

I also want to thank her for instilling in me her spiritual beliefs. They have helped me in this heartbreaking time and I know only her body is no longer with us.

Her soul and spirit are still with us and will live on. I had a conversation not that long ago with her reminding her that when she does go, don't forget to come visit me, or haunt me, whichever, I dont care... just come see me. I reminded her last week at the hospital. I think I might have received my first sign from her on Monday at Freddies when I was picking up pictures that I sent from my computer of her, to be printed. I was standing there waiting for them to finish,

and the lady helping me held one of the pics up of her sayin she has to redo that one. The picture was of her wearing a white blouse in our old house at 62nd and Holgate, and across the picture was this red smear. The lady was just going to toss it, but I told her I wanted it. I know most ppl would excuse it as something just got messed up when printing. I know this. But I'd like to think it was her way of saying "I'm still here".

 

My Mom has a very dear and close friend Dee, who she met almost 55 years ago in the 3rd grade in Richmond, Virginia.

Unfortunetly Dee couldn't be here today, but wanted us to read this letter from her."

 

~Tracy

 

Letter From Dee:

 

On Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 we all (Carri, Tracy, Kim, Bret, Heather, Leslie, Carrisa, Lawrence and Chad) went for a drive in Northern California and found the perfect spot to scatter Mom's ashes.

This was a wonderful day spent with family, seeing amazing sites and granting Mom's final wishes. It was awe-inspiring, amazing, and spiritual. For me personally, it almost felt like a weight was finally lifted. I felt lighter. I was happy, not sad. We each held her in our hands, one last time, and released her final earthly trappings, scattered among the beauty she fell in love with 20 years ago.

We did keep a little bit of her though for ourselves, that we're each going to hold close to us in a piece of jewelry. She gave Kim permission, and I didn't think she'd mind that Carri and I also wanted to.

Some people think this is finally 'closure' for us. But, like Mom, I don't believe in closure. Mom is not closed, she lives on, through us and will forever.