Dr. Henry Evans White

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

Dr. "Coach" Henry E. White was born in Monroe, North Carolina on April 2, 1949 and was the fifth child of the late Henry and Nellie Kilgo White.  On May 3, 2019, he transitioned from his earthly home in Lithonia, GA to be with his parents, his brothers Melvin and Douglas, and his sisters Bessie and Audrey.

Henry was educated in the Monroe City Schools at Winchester Avenue School.  He, however, did not get an opportunity to graduate from Winchester because a fire forced the high school students to transfer to Monroe High School at the end of his junior year.  He was one of the first African-American students to graduate from Monroe High School in 1967.  Henry received a basketball scholarship from and attended Friendship Junior College in Rock Hill, SC.  He then attended his beloved St. Augustine College where he graduated in 1973.  He would spend the next 30 years as coach, professor, and Department Chair.  Despite his busy schedule, he managed to achieve two of his life-long goals, completing his Masters of Science degree from North Carolina Central University and his Doctor of Arts degree from Middle Tennessee State University.

Coach White loved sports and parlayed that passion into coaching.  He began his coaching career at Parkwood Middle School as the Boys' Basketball and Baseball Coach.  During his first year of caching his middle school basketball team won their first championship.  He was given an opportunity to return to his alma mater where he served as the Assistant Coach for men's basketball, Head Coach for women's basketball, and Head Baseball Coach.  Under his leadership,his teams won several Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) conference and tournament championships as well as a Regional NAIA Tournament championship.  He also, during this time received three Coach of the Year honors.  While teaching at Johnson C. Smith University, he was named Interim Athletic Directer.

Coach White was later tapped by North Carolina Central by North Carolina Central University to re-start their baseball program.  The team won the CIAA championship in just their first year and he received honors as CIAA Baseball Coach of the Year.  In 2009, he was inducted into the Saint Augustine's College Falcon Foundation Athletic Hall of Fame for his years of unwavering service to his alma mater.  Although he received many accolades as a coach, the thing that mattered most to him was not so much the wins, but the relationships that he developed with the you men and women that played on his teams.  He was not just interested in them as athletes, but encouraged them to use athletics as an avenue to earn a college degree.  He was no nonsense when it came to academics over athletes.  He was very proud of the fact that his student athletes earned degrees from college at a rate of 97%.

Henry was Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.  He was also a member of the Atlanta Chapter of the Saint Augustine Alumni Association, the Winchester Avenue Alumnae Association and served on the Executive Board of the Piper Davis Youth Baseball League in Birmingham, AL.  Despite all of the awards, honors and achievements, if you asked Henry what mattered most to him he would without hesitation say it was his son, Tyrone Hill and his granddaughter Victoria Gambrell.  He was also proud of the fact that he attended the State of the Union Address and sat on the dais with President Bill Clinton.

Coach White lived life to the fullest by enjoying sports, movies, and concerts.  His greatest passion was spending time with his family and friends.  He also enjoyed fellowshipping with hundreds of his sons "his ball players".  He never missed a Saint Augustine Homecoming or a CIAA Tournament.  He will be greatly missed by all who met, knew, and loved him.

Left to cherish these and other memories are his son, Tyrone Hill of Lithonia, GA and granddaughter, Victoria Gambrell of Greenville, SC; three brothers, Leon White (Tana), Eddie White (Cheri) both of Las Vegas, NV and Eugene White of Monroe, NC; and his sister, Helena Funderburk of Wingate, NC.  Memories of Henry will also be cherished by aunts; Fulta Mae Hilliard (Heyward) of Monroe, NC and Barbara Watson of Charlotte, NC; his sister-in-law; Maggie White of Lancaster, SC and brother-in-law; Charlie Leak of Wingate, NC; his special friend and travel partner, Sharon Crowder Poston; his "Baseball Boys, my Sons" and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, friends and the thousands of students whose lives he touched.

In lieu of flowers, one of Coach White’s last wishes was that donations be made to the Dr. “Coach”Henry E. White Memorial Fund. Checks should be written to the Dr. “Coach” Henry E. White Memorial Fund and can be made at any Wells Fargo branch, mailed 6241 Dogwood Trail, Lithonia GA 30058 or online at http://bit.ly/2DL8gPA .

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