Obituary of Harriet White

Life Reflections "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." John 14:1 Harriet Hunter White was born on September 20, 1925, to the late Nathan and Josephine Floyd Hunter in Sumter County, South Carolina. She was the eighth born of nine children and blessed with a remarkable life which spanned 96 years. Harriet began her spiritual journey at an early age and was baptized at the High Hills Baptist Church in Sumter. She received her formal education in Sumter, graduating from the "colored school" namely, "High Hill High School." Afterwards, she enrolled in and attended Morris College in Sumter. This was an extremely significant achievement particularly during 1940's and one that Harriet cherished throughout her life. Still a very young woman, Harriet left the south, headed north, arrived in Pennsylvania where she lived with some of her relatives. She later moved to Baltimore where she was joined in holy matrimony to Charlie White. In continuation of her spiritual journey, she joined Saint Martin's Church of Christ. She later joined Israel Baptist Church, where she remained and was faithful in her attendance until her failing health prevented her active participation. In her younger days, she enjoyed going to the racetrack with her son Stanley. Playing bingo was another of her passions and she looked forward to those van rides every week. Whether far or near, she also enjoyed her trips to the casinos. Harriet found these outlets to be both exciting and enjoyable and it seemed that Lady Luck always followed her. She also enjoyed home and community gardening, canning when she visited her sisters in Harrisburg, PA., and traveling throughout the country with family and friends. For 63 years, Harriet resided on the corners of Chase Street and Milton Avenue, and it was there where she used her green thumb to create a beautiful backyard, filled with flowerpots of vibrant and various arrays of colorful flowers, that passer byes always complimented. Her kitchen was the home's hub and it was there where family and friends would gather to seek her sage advice and worldly wisdom. She was a kind, warm-spirited and loving person who didn't hesitate to speak her mind. She was the consummate money manager and a confidential banker that made many loans and gave monetary gifts to close loved ones and friends. To know her was to love her and Mrs. White was highly respected in the neighborhood by people of all ages. Harriet operated the local family-owned corner store, White's Grocery, with her husband Charlie. The store was a gathering place as well as a necessity for the residents in the area prior to the arrival of neighborhood supermarkets. Harriet ran the store during the daytime hours while her husband fulfilled his fulltime employment duties with the City of Baltimore. Despite having to run and operate a business as well as outside work, the couple still managed to successfully raise a wonderful family. She found great joy spending time with her children and was blessed by the pleasures of life that each of them provided and shared with her. The benefits of a loving family included much laughter and fullness of life for Harriet. On April 13, 2022, Harriet passed from labor to reward. Now resting in the bosom of Jesus Christ, she is the last of her eight siblings to gain wings. The latter years of her life found her as the family matriarch, and she was truly our "Queen." As the final member of her generation to move on to a heavenly mansion in the sky, we're reminded of Aunt Mattie's spoken words that Aunt Weesa's passing on April 4, 1994, "broke the family circle". In heaven, the circle is now complete again, with Harriet having left a Hunter/Floyd legacy that is both everlasting and eternal. Harriet was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charlie; son, Stanley; grandson, Stanley Jr.; two brothers, William and Richard; and six sisters, Hattie, Sarah, Louise, Mary, Mattie, and Josephine. She leaves to cherish precious memories her devoted daughter of the home and caretaker, Catherine Mashelle White; three devoted sons, Carl Belvin Hunter (wife Rosa) of Sumter, South Carolina, Charles Lynwood White (wife Christina) and Horace Sylvester White (wife Yvonne) of Baltimore, MD; a close cousin like a sister raised together in Sumter, Angie Gathers; two granddaughters, Gloria Hunter and Felicia Chase; four grandsons, Carl Jermaine Hunter, Sr. (wife Michelle), Cory White, Howard Duncan, and Dwayne White; eight great grandchildren, Rashad Hunter, Tarron Wallace, Dejuan Lee, LaMya White, Dominique White, Carl Hunter, Jr., McKenzie Hunter, Mason Hunter, and four great-great grandchildren, Harmony Parker, Melody Hunter, Amonie Wallace and Emarri Wallace; and a host of loving nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Sleep on dear mother and take your rest. We all loved you, but God loves you best. Lovingly submitted, The Family "We shed tears because she is gone but we rejoice because she lived and spread her love among us all."