Ruth Hattie Rose White

Ruth Hattie Rose White was born on August 10, 1935 to the late Volaska Leroy Rose, Sr. and the late Rev. Lillian Scie Profit in Chicago, Illinois. She accepted Jesus Christ and was baptized as a young adult at Israel Baptist Church in Harvey Louisiana. She later joined St. Anthony Divine Spiritual Temple of Christ where she grew in faith under the late Bishop Wilbert Hawkins. She was most recently a faithful servant at Nazareth Baptist Church where she continued her spiritual journey under the leadership of Rev. Marc A. Napoleon. Throughout her spiritual journey she performed in the choir, served children routinely as a Sunday School Teacher, and served in other leadership roles in the church as well. Ruth was educated in the Orleans Parish School System, attending St. Joan of Arc, Dunbar Elementary, and Walter L. Cohen Senior High School where she graduated in 1953. She was united in holy matrimony to George Edward White, Sr. and to this union was born 11 children. Ruth was lovingly known by many names: Mama Ruth, “My Momma”, BTR (Big Time Ruth), Grandma Ruth, “Grandmother”, Ruth-T, and Ruthie-Do. She served as a mother figure to many, with 11 children, 31 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren, how could she not. Mothering was second nature to her. She loved her family with all her heart and worked her entire life to ensure they were taken care of. However, she did not hesitate to put you in your place when needed and was brutally honest. Ruth loved to dance and sing (particularly while cooking on Sunday mornings after church), she loved jigsaw puzzles, solitaire, games shows and surprisingly enough Ms. Pacman. Ruth struggled for over two years with lung cancer and was recently diagnosed with dementia but on Thursday, March 12, 2020, God healed her and called her home. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Volaska Leroy Rose Sr., and Rev. Lillian Scie Profit, her step-father, Joseph Clifford Profit, Sr., husband George Edward White, Sr., her brothers Volaska Rose, Jr., Henry Rose, Sr., Milton Melvin Profit, Sr. and Rev Joseph Clifford Profit, Jr., her brother-in-law, Eugene Edwards, Sr. and her sister-in-law, Fayetta Rose. She was also preceded in death by two of her children, George Edward White, Jr. and Lillian Odessa Skinner. She leaves to cherish her memory two sisters, Lillian Odessa Edwards and Rosie Marie Profit, two sisters-in-law, Geraldine Rose and Brenda Profit, nine children; Angela White Turner (Harry), Myrna Lynn Kerry (Robert), Kenneth White (Karen), Claude Volaska White, Sr. (Pamela), Lorie Davis (Deric), Cardell Edwin White (Laurie), James White (Sandra), Keyuana Bass (Jarrod) and Terrence Elijah White (Sheneeta); 31 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and host of aunts, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. Out of an abundance of caution to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the funeral and burial will be limited to invited immediate family members only. There will be a memorial in the future where others can attend. The immediate family only will celebrate her life on Saturday, March 21, 2020 at Nazareth Baptist Church, 9108 Pritchard Place beginning 10 am. Church viewing 9 am until 10 am and limited to small number of attendees. Interment Providence Memorial Park. The celebration will be streamed online at www.facebook.com/viewfuneralnow.