Obituary of Fannie White

Fannie White was born on January 24, 1930, in Java, Virginia, daughter of the late Frank Edmundson McLaughlin and Mattie Jones McLaughlin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence White, and her twelve brothers and sisters.

Fannie was educated in the public schools of Chester, Pennsylvania, and worked at Strawbridge & Clothier for several years. One fateful evening, while shopping and watching the Christmas spectacle at Wanamaker’s, she met a handsome young man who offered to help with her packages. That night was the beginning of a decades long love with her beloved Clarence. Fannie and Clarence married in 1951.

In 1959, Fannie and Clarence joined Zion Baptist Church and became very involved with their spiritual home. For over thirty years, Fannie served as a team leader and the go-to person for ticket, jewelry sales, and even golf tournaments. She was always happy to serve her church family.

In 1964, Clarence and Fannie opened their own paperboard manufacturing company, Sperring White Corporation. They successfully ran their business for 40 years, hiring employees from the North Philadelphia community. While managing the business finances, Fannie would even step in to feed the machines when necessary. 

Fannie loved to prepare wonderful home cooked meals. Christmas time at 420 was filled with good cheer and fantastic food. The evenings included spirited games of pinochle, with not many family members successfully beating the partnership of Fannie and her dear sister, Dot! Attending the Gantt-White family reunions and sharing time with her many in-laws and cousins was a joy for Fannie.

Fannie leaves to cherish her memory: her daughter Selena (husband, Fernando), son Stephen (wife, Victorene), and daughter Donna (husband, Brian); grandchildren: Lauren (husband, Alex), Aaron (wife, Helen), Diego, Evan, and Nicole. Fannie was also blessed with great-grandchildren: Nya, Ava, Arianna, Isaiah, and Weston. In her last years, Fannie lived at Sunrise at Lafayette Hill, where she made friendships with staff and residents. Fannie will be fondly remembered by her church family, relatives, and friends.