Robert John White, Sr.

            Mr. Robert John “Bob” White, Sr., 86, of Georgetown, Georgia, died Monday, October 14, 2024, at St. Frances Hospital in Columbus, Georgia.

            Memorial services will be held Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 9 A.M. CDT/ 10 A.M. EST, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church with Father David Shoemaker officiating and Chapman Funeral Home directing.

            Born July 9, 1938 in Marlborough, Massachusetts, Mr. White was the son of the late John and Albertine Thibeault White.  Mr. White was a graduate of Hartford High School, Fairfield University, Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America and Woodrow Wilson College of Law.  He was atrial attorney since 1969, serving in all Georgia courts in the U.S. District Court 5th Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit; International Criminal Court, the Netherlands, Hague (by invitation).  He supported individual rights and remedies and matters of first impression where change of precedents is deemed necessary for public betterment.  He subjected Grady Hospital to Georgia Workers Compensation Act, where previous exempt and many more cases in the Georgia Supreme Court.

            He played shortstop as a child and considered going pro, except the pay was too low back then.  He loved playing golf and became very good at it.  He made dashboards for submarines for a while.  He ran an elevator in the U.S. House of Representatives for 2 years.  He loved to travel and visited England, Italy and France.  He attended the University of New Mexico of Fine Arts for 3 years and became a Master Printer in photography.  He loved writing and was asked by the University of Georgia to write the History of Quitman County, which is on UGA’s website.  Bob wrote a book but he became too ill to promote it.  An avid opera theatre goer, he frequented New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Hawaii opera performances.  He was one of the 12 founding members of the Atlanta Lyric Opera Company.  His favorite composer was Puccini and his idol was Abraham Lincoln.  Bob’s motto was: “Dignity Is Not A Word – It’s a Mandate”.

            Survivors include his wife of 42 years: Linda “Lewie” White; his children: Michelle White (Will) Goodman, Robert John White, Jr., Timothy Francis (Kendra Godfrey) White, Christopher (Julie) White; his grandchildren: Sydney (Andrew) Cote, Jessica (Ben) Johnson, Bentley (Willis) Thompson, Jackie White, John Christopher White, Katie (Justin) Williams, Claire (Justin) Mahoney, William (Mikaela) Goodman; great grandchildren: Charlotte Mahoney, Everette Mahoney, Shand Goodman, Shep Goodman; his ex-wife and mother of his children: Patricia White.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to Quitman Volunteer Fire Rescue  - Attn:  Jason Weeks , P O BOX 114,  Georgetown, GA 39854

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert John White, Sr., please visit our floral store.