The White Family

It's a gorgeous day as spring begins and four of the eight White siblings come together in Sue's kitchen - Sue White Wakefield, Ruby White Bailey, Emmett White and John White. They gather around the kitchen island where views of the river can be seen from every window. The Gone Fishing towel hang on the stove handle. Sue's artwork of the place – Jaxson, their grandson as a little one and their beloved Red Dog when he was a pup, catching a fish by the water; the familiar bald eagle as it takes its daily swoop in front of the house - they all hang around the living space. The siblings bring with them old pictures and a binder full of the stories handed down. This is a family who loves each other and loved their daddy, John Neumen White, dearly.

As the four crowd-source their lineage and their history around the water, tales are told, sometimes in tears, about their beloved father.

John White was a hard worker. He and his wife Ina Pearl (Bradly) White owned a 260+ acre dairy farm in Randolph County for many years. When it was sold it was one of the last two remaining dairy farms in the county. He worked the farm and so did his family. They tended the fields near the river that belonged to Mr. Luther Rice, not only to help with their farm but to also be able to feed their dairy cows. They had a wonderful working relationship. As the tales are told, the two appear to be thick as thieves.

One afternoon, Mr. Luther (as they lovingly referred to him) had a heart attack, right out there on his land. "Daddy" as they keep referring to him (Mr. White), "found Mr. Luther and loaded him in the truck to get him to the hospital." By all appearances Mr. White saved Mr. Luther's life. However, this story is only mentioned toward the end of the storytelling. They are humble people and do not want to seem boastful. But it is clear, Mr. Luther and Mr. White were very close.

Mr. White wasn't just a farmer, he was an avid outdoorsman. "Daddy was a pro." He hunted and fished the river to provide for his family. They caught minnows and the worms for the bait. Mr. White built the fish cages and even the pole boat for fishing. Catfish and crappie and deer and turkey were staples in the White home. They ate from the farm as well. As Ruby says, "we only went to the store for sugar, coffee, flour, and eggs."

In 1978, Mr. White started building a house on the river, before the water was backed up. He bought 8 acres from Mr. Luther right there on the river. He divided the land up into family lots - one for every sibling and one for him and his wife. "Daddy had a vision."  He loved the water and knew that his family would one day love having a place on the water. He was right. Over time, the siblings have moved out to the water one at a time.

Emmett, who was itching to get out fishing during this storytelling hour, was first. He and his wife came to the land in 1990. Next was Ruby, she and her husband came out in 1995. John, who speaks of his father with such love and tenderness, came to help take care of his mother and daddy in 1996, when they needed help. Sue joined the family on the water in 2010.

Mr. John Neuman White passed away in 2004.

The siblings like to say that "daddy was a hoot." One of them had their father's car painted up like a police car. He loved it and has pictures of him sitting in it all painted up.

When the grandkids were little, they would have family gatherings on the point with around 30-40 people. They would swim and fish and jump off the dock. Most of the grandkids still live in the area, from Woodland to Delta. Now they have a weekly fish fry for the four families. John and Emmett do all the catching. They have an upcoming wedding reception on the point in May.

Before the water was backed up, Emmett knew the river up and down and even had a map made of all the bends and turns. "There was a small waterfall up the way there," Emmett says. There was a Native American fish trap out there and they continue to find arrowheads to this day. The river used to be around 2 - 10 feet deep. now it's around 18 - 40 feet deep.

"When daddy came up here there was nothing. It has grown and changed a lot."

They all feel so blessed and thankful to be where they are every single day. They expressed so much gratitude to their father for the gift that he gave them. When asked what they would say to people who are new to the area, John gives a smile and a little rhyme that he came up with on the spot, "Don't destroy it, enjoy it."

"It's a lovely place to live. It's so peaceful here. We enjoy the trees, the boats, the water, the deer coming out to eat on the banks, the geese, the eagle that flies by daily."

"Daddy took care of us - he looked out for us. He knew."

*Just a note: While the White family did buy the old Lonnie White house and move it before the water was backed up for one of the siblings, there is no relation to the Lonnie White family.

By: Angie Stryker