Douglas Knox White

Douglas Knox White died at his Gulfport home on August 16, 2008. Born in Gulfport on January 10, 1924, he was the son of the late Hazle and Walter H. White. Mr. White was preceded in death by his brother, Neil Ware White. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Patti Barrett White. He is also survived by four daughters and a son: Janet White, Gulfport, Julia White Riley and her husband, Dr. Don Riley, Tupelo, Pat White Horn and her husband, Ralph Horn, Memphis, Douglas Knox White, Jr., and his wife, Risa, Brandon, and Gloria White, Gulfport; seven grandchildren: Melissa Swetland Nolan, Hallie Swetland Battle, Tyler Horn, Maggie Horn, Christina White, Julieanne White, Douglas Knox White, III (Deke); two great grandchildren: Katie Battle, Beau Battle, and a number of nieces and nephews. A 1941 graduate of Gulfport High School, Mr. White also earned a BA degree from the University of Mississippi and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He pursued advanced legal studies at Columbia University in New York City. Mr. White had a distinguished military record in World War II, having been awarded decorations for action with the 7th Armored Division in the Battle of the Bulge in Germany in 1944. His role was recounted in the book, Undiscovered Heroes of World War II. Later he served as an officer in the Judge Advocate General Corps, U.S. Army Reserve. He began his practice with White & White, a prestigious Mississippi law firn founded in the ninteenth century by his great uncle, Judge Walter H. White of Biloxi. He was recognized especially for his knowledge and expertise in banking and real estate law. He was Of Counsel to the law firm Allen, Cobb, Hood, and Atkinson, PA., Gulfport. Mr. White also served as legal counsel to both Hancock Bank and to Peoples Bank. Widely traveled, he was an avid reader and a recognized authority on European history. Mr. White was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Gulfport Yacht Club, a charter member of the Great Southern Club, past president of the Great Southern Country Club, past president of the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Assn., past president of the Harrison County Bar Assn., past president of the Century Club and past president of the Gridiron Club. He was also a member of the Mississippi State Bar Assn., the Boston Club in New Orleans, the Young Men's Business Club, Sunkist Country Club, and other organizations. Mr. White was an active participant in various legal associations and societies. Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 19, 2008 from five to seven o'clock at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home on 15th Street in Gulfport. The funeral service will be on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 2:00 o'clock. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 5005 Lawson Avenue in Gulfport where friends may visit one hour before the service at the church. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Gulfport. Memorials may be made to Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency (Public Donation Fund), 12 River Bend Place, Flowood, MS 39232, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 5005 Lawson Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39507 or to a charity of one's choice. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com.