Deacon Alfred E. White

Alfred Ewing White was born on January 13, 1927 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky to Wills White and Mable Leavell White.
Alfred received this primary education in Hopkinsville, KY where he was unable to complete his education due to the unforeseen passing of his father, Wills where he then had to share responsibilities of the family with his mother, Mable to help provide for the family as a sharecropper. Because of this circumstance he had to quickly grow up and become the “Man of the House” and learn all the ways to care and provide for the family. He was then able to become a hard worker and knew the true importance of this task by the age of 12.
Alfred was the middle child out of 4 children who were Fred, Alonzo Sr. and Lucy. As a child not only did he work on the farm, but he also enjoyed playing there when able to. He became very creative and used the red clay of Kentucky to mold and make model cars from it. Although he enjoyed all types of sports growing up here never had the opportunity to be part of any teams due to his busy work schedule on the farm. He and his family moved from the farm areas of Hopkinsville toward the city around the age of 16 and enjoyed going to the city market with his mom to shop where he always got Bologna and Crackers as a treat which was a fond memory he often shared.
Alfred moved to Indianapolis, IN around the age of 18 where he joined his brothers Fred and Alonzo and became employed at William H. Block (W.M. Block) Department Store in downtown Indy where TJ Maxx is currently. While working at Blocks Department Store, he met the Love of his life H. Catherine White. Alfred and Catherine dated and got married in six weeks after meeting each other for the first time by the late William F. Sweat of Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church where they joined. To that union 2 little girls were born, Linda Kay and Beverly Gwen. While attending Metropolitan he became the youngest member and treasurer of the Brotherhood Ministry. He later became a member of the Usher Board as well as becoming the President of the Ministry for over 30 years. He was also ordained as a Deacon of the church by the late Rev. Lorenzo E. Ervin in June of 1984 where he served on that board up until his health began to decline. While in good health Alfred was involved in all aspects of church, He attended Sunday School with his wife and his grandchildren. He believed in supporting the church as instructed by paying his tithes and offerings. He was fortune to attend several conventions on behalf of Metropolitan. He was apart of the Male Chorus and loved to sing songs with them. As a Deacon, he was often heard leading devotion with the selections of “Trouble in My Way and I will Trust in the Lord”
Alfred had a passion for building and making things and had an opportunity to join Thompson Construction where he was able to do just that. He began working as a Tunnel Digger as Construction work during this time was not only hard but prejudice as well due to the inequalities African Americans faced in this field. Mr. Thompson had become impressed with Alfred and his hard work ethic and later offered him the opportunity to become a Heavy Equipment Operator and even sponsored to pay for him to be trained. With the training he received after Mr. Thompson passed he was then able to take those certifications and join other construction companies not only here in Indiana but Illinois as well. He worked on many sites and projects here in Indianapolis. Some of them are: Building Circle Centre Mall, the Hoosier Dome, Bush Stadium, building tunnels all under downtown and Fall Creek, and helping to rebuild runways at the Indianapolis International Airport.
Alfred was a grandfather to two amazing grandsons, James (Jimmy) and Derrick. He enjoyed being apart of their lives as often as he could from sports activities with Jimmy and Red Cross Volunteer work with Derrick. No matter what the assignment Alfred always answered the call and made sure he was in his grandchildren’s corner to encourage them both.
Early Sunday morning on July 23rd Alfred was called from labor to reward at the age of 96, 6 months and 10 days. He was preceded in death by his parents Wills White and Mable Leavell White, the love of his life Catherine White, his daughter Beverly White-Morris, both of his brothers Fred and Alonzo Sr., and his sister Lucy. He leaves to cherish his memories and celebration of life to his loving daughter Linda (James Sr.) Blackwell, 2 grandsons James (Michele) Blackwell and Derrick Blackwell, his nieces Priscilla Parris, Shirley Parker Dinkins and Angela Chism, nephews Alonzo Jr. (DeEsther) White and Kenneth (Sandra) Parker, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, cousins, neighbors who loved him and a host of friends.