Chapter One

Doris Tereasia Boyd White was born on September 26, 1941 to the late Cyrus and Lucy Henderson Boyd.  She was the last child of eleven in a family of farmers and entrepreneurs.  She spent her early years on the farm and wasn't afraid of hard work.  Her brothers had her driving tractors and farm trucks before she was driving cars.  She joined Oak Level United Church of Christ and kept her membership here throughout her life even though she also attended Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church regularly with her husband.  She was educated in the Warren County School system and graduated from Warren County Training School in 1959.

While in high school, she met the man that was going to be her life-long mate.  To that end, she married Clarence White, Sr. on June 12, 1959 shortly after graduation. The two of them would remain married for all of her years.  They had a family of five children: Reggie, Rochelle, Ercelle, Clarence Jr. (Junie) and Pamela.  During their 60 years of marriage, they built a home together and cultivated a huge family garden every year.  Tereasia was famous for her canning and freezing of fresh vegetables produced from their garden.  It was normally so much that family and neighbors got to partake of the many fruits from this garden.

Tereasia started her working career helping her brother Walter in his dry cleaners.  She worked for several years until she started working at Northside Elementary School as a teacher's assistant in 1973.  She continued to do this for many years until she decided to go to college as an adult to get her degree in Education.  She was extremely determined and attended St. Agustine's College in Raleigh on nights and weekends making the one hour drive each way several days a week for a few years.  Tereasia's perseverance paid off and she graduated in 1988 with honors with her Bachelor's degree in Education.  She had her own cheering section consisting of her husband, children and grandchildren. Clarence often commented that she had a higher GPA than any of the kids.  She continued to teach, working with children at Northside as a reading teacher.  She consistently helped improve the reading scores in the school.  She was also a constant force for the grandchildren that attended Northside.  She instilled a purpose in each of them to always put their education first.  She finally retired form Aycock Elementary School in Henderson in 1994.

While she was working, her family continued to grow.  All of her grandchildren were born during this time:  Don Burnette, Jr., Felicia White, Jeana Arrington, Brandon Burnette, Ashley Arrington, Reggie White II, Kyle Arrington, Giles Burnette, Alicia Arrington, and Madison King.  DJ and Jeana called themselves the sixth and seven children.  Each of them will have some memory to cherish of a family meal at the "Compound".  Holidays were especially festive at the Compound.  Christmas was her absolute favorite as evidenced by the decorations that covered every surface in the entire home and usually a good portion of the outside too.  Tereasia would "outdo" herself making the meal and her world-famous pies as well as the special strawberry cake she'd make just for Brandon.  She'd make so many pies, each grandchild could take an entire pie home with them.

Then, great-grandchildren or four-G's were added to the brood.  Jaidon Burnette, Ciara and Tiara McLaughlin, Micah Burnette, Nazir Shaw, Kaine Burnette, Journi Burnette, Nasje Alexander, Mayor Cabanilla, Cameron Kyle Arrington, Brandon Burnette Jr. and Sevyn Burnette only added more chaos and fun to the family functions.

There was also heartbreak over the years as she lost those closest to her.  Her parents, all eight brothers and sister, Eliza, would pass on before her.  Her sisters, whom she loved very much, Junetta Boyd Freeman and Jean Burchett Padgett will cherish their memories with her.  She also had a special bond with Delois Greenlee, her adopted sister.

Then, on September 21, 2019, this earthly chapter ended for Tereasia.  She went to be with the Lord and was met by a host of loved ones.  "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7

In addition to her immediate family, she also leaves the following to celebrate a life well-lived: Sons-in-law: Marlon Arrington, married to Rochelle, and Lloyd King, married to Pam; daughter-in-law, Amie White, married to Reggie; Ercelle's special friend, Lynee Taylor; Sister's-in-law: Gracie Yarbrough, Lizzie Daves, Otelia Davis (William), Cornelia Williams (Ercell), Lillian Green (Richard), Miranda Alston, Zaida White, and Argatha Vass (Donnie).  Brothers-in-law: Albert White Jr., Alexander White, Peter White (Gloria) and James Padgett. There are also so many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly and spoke of often. It was not uncommon for her to call the name of a niece or nephew when trying to summon her children over the years.

Chapter Two

The chapter is still being written....

The viewing will be held on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Baskerville Funeral Home, 104 S. Chestnut Street, Henderson, North Carolina.

Church service will be at Oak Level United Church of Christ on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. and viewing from 10:00 A.M to 11:00 A.M.