September 11, 1952  -  May 9, 2008

Frank L. White (photo circa 1998)

Frank died of cancer.  According to an eyewitness, he met death with heroic faith and courage, calling out “Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!” in his final moments.  Most of us did not get to see Frank much after we left Maplewood, but he is remembered from those days as an all-round good guy.  We admire his faith and are saddened by his passing.

Below are words about Frank (Called “Butch” by his family) from his ex-wife Kathy Barber:

Frank was a kind and loving man.  When he interacted with others, there was a way about him that always made others feel good about themselves.  He was loyal, and always willing to help anyone.  The last couple of years of his life, he shared that gift at the Nashville Rescue Mission, where he counseled others.  He was highly thought of and loved by many of the staff and residents there.

He spent the last several weeks of his life at Alive Hospice.  I spent the final nine days of his life there with him.  During that time, I was amazed at the number of visitors coming and going, all of them telling me what a wonderful person he was and the positive impact he had on their lives.  As I walked the halls of Hospice, family members of other patients would approach me and ask about him and tell me how special he was to them.

Also during those nine days, there was a constant stream of Hospice staff in and out of his room—nurses, aides, volunteers and others.  They all told me how special he was to them and how they loved him.

One of them shared with me that Butch had told them that he thought God had sent him to Hospice to minister to the patients, but that he had found out that he had been sent there to minister to the families of the patients, and in doing so had found his purpose in life.  How many of us have it revealed to us during our lifetime our purpose?  What a great gift from God this was to him.

He told me that he was not afraid of dying, that he was ready to go when God was ready to take him.  As one of his nurses, Joy, shared with you, his last words were “Hallelujah, Hallelujah.”

Below is the obituary published in Published in The Tennessean on May 14, 2008: WHITE, Frank L.  Age 55 of Nashville, passed away peacefully May 9, 2008.  Proceeded in death by parents, Edith and Clyde White.  Survived by siblings, Faye Jackson, Linda Young and Jerry White.  Frank lived for God each day and gave all Glory and Honor to Him.  In lieu of flowers, Frank asked that donations go to Alive Hospice or the Nashville Rescue Mission.  EASTLAND FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, (615) 227-9558

--Posted July 6, 2008