Geraldine Madison White

Geraldine Madison Rash White, 94, of Statesville, went to be with her Lord and Savior in the early morning hours of March 23, 2016. She passed away peacefully with family at her bedside. Gerry was born in Union Grove, North Carolina, on December 7, 1921, to the late Robert Fulton and Mary Eugenia Madison Rash. She attended Union Grove School, High Point College, and Duke University School of Divinity. After graduation, she began her long career in Christian service at Broad Street Methodist Church as Director of Christian Education. Gerry was soon recruited to serve at churches around the south in a similar capacity. When the chance to return to Broad Street presented itself, she took the opportunity to come home where she would stay. After years as DCE at Broad Street, Gerry became the director of the choir at Race Street United Methodist Church, and then returned back to her beloved Broad Street as the director of the Chancel Choir where she stayed until her retirement. The need to stay close to the church kept her playing the piano at the First Church of the Nazarene until failing health sidelined her just a couple of years ago. Throughout her life of service, Gerry impacted so many folks both young and old alike. A Christian from a very young age, she never knew a time when she didn't want to please the Lord. She LOVED to go to church, LOVED to play the piano, and never passed either one without at least a few songs. The last two to be heard were "Just a Closer Walk with Thee", and "Amazing Grace". The crowd went wild... One day Gerry went to the bank. She got in line and was waited on by a nice young man that took a liking to her. That young man was Thomas Hill White of Snow Creek. They were happily married until Tom's death in 1979. Unable to have children of their own; first a son William Robert and then a daughter Mary Robin were adopted. (The family is big on adoption.) Daughter Robin also preceded her in death. Others that have passed on before her were a brother, Thomas A. Rash; sister and brother-in-law, Wanona and Harper Van Hoy; and brother-in-law, Joe Moore. She is survived by her son William R (Bob) & his wife Robin White; two granddaughters, Cassie (Stephen) Hensley and Kellie (Jay) Kendrick; one great granddaughter, Evelyn Kendrick; sister-in-law, Sue White Moore; four nieces and nephews: Hank (Polly) Van Hoy, Gerry (Dick) Barker, Genie (Dave) Bradshaw, Bill (Natalie) Moore; and many great nieces and nephews. Gerry was always involved in the community. She worked tirelessly with so many groups and organizations, too many to list all here. Some of her favorites over the years were the McDowell Music Club, the Republican Party of Iredell Co, Community Concerts Association, and near and dear to her heart, her Senior Serenaders. (You know who you are.) Has it been mentioned - she LOVED to play the piano? If you ever had the chance to hear her play, you would understand the extra mention. It has been said that Jesus Himself never missed an opportunity to just sit and enjoy the music. That music has now been added to the unspeakable glory of Heaven. For those who wish to attend, the family will receive friends this Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at Nicholson Funeral Home, 135 East Front Street in Statesville from 12:30P.M. until 2:00P.M. The service will follow in the funeral home chapel beginning around 2:00P.M. Pastor Frank Turner of the First Church of the Nazarene will be the main speaker. Gerry will be laid to rest beside Tom in the Union Grove United Methodist Church cemetery following the service. At the risk of sounding like an acceptance speech from one of the many award shows on TV, the family would like to thank some folks who have been very supportive and don't normally receive the accolades they should. Those listed are by no means everyone, so apologies will be available after the internment on a first come, first served basis. Thanks to Tommy Goodin with Davis Internal Medicine, Frank Turner with Piedmont Veterans Assistance Council, the staff and management of both Davis Community and Iredell Memorial Hospitals, Drs. Pence & Li, Lowry Drug Co, Brookdale Assisted Living on East Broad, Community Home Care and Hospice, Home Care Helpers, the staff at Nicholson Funeral Home, Pastor Frank & Ovella Turner, Judy & Jerry Ball, Nikki & Henry Canipe, and her many, many friends for their prayers and support. Flowers are great - they just are. Gerry loved flowers. (When she went on vacation, you couldn't tell where she had been by the pictures she took because they were all of flowers.) But better than flowers is a gift to your local church or other charity of your choice. The family would be thrilled if you would consider a memorial to either the First Church of the Nazarene or Broad Street United Methodist Church. Condolences may be sent online to the family to www.nicholsonfunerals.com. Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family.