Cover photo for Elsie Mae Burgess White's Obituary
Elsie Mae Burgess White Profile Photo
1926 Elsie 2020

Elsie Mae Burgess White

July 4, 1926 — December 25, 2020

Elsie Mae Burgess White, of Glenwood, passed into her Lord’s arms on Christmas Day, 2020.

She was born on July 4, 1926, in Sims, the daughter of Eugene Burgess and Pearl Coffman Burgess. She was the third child in the family with one sister and four brothers, Clarence, Maudy (Myers), James”Tex” and Doyle Burgess, all of whom preceded her in death.

As a child, the family moved around and worked in the cotton fields. The years were hard, but her parents instilled a deep faith in their children. Elsie helped her father build cabinets and learned a love of gardening from her mother.

Having been born on Independence Day, Elsie was fiercely independent. Her independence allowed her an adventurous life and she did enjoy all 94 years.

Elsie graduated high school in 1943. She moved to Hot Springs to live with an aunt and worked as a hostess at the Arlington Hotel. It was during this time that she met Ellison Alfred White. They wrote letters to each other until he returned from World War II. They were married on August 29, 1945. They moved to Fort Worth, then Abilene, where they welcomed their son and only child, Jimmie Don White. The family settled in Oklahoma City while they raised their son. Elsie was an active and involved mother. She was the quintessential housewife and mother. She baked, gardened, painted, sewed, canned vegetables, quilted and through it all, Elsie created a home and family.

After Jimmie left home, Mr. White’s job led them to Petersburg, Alaska. Elsie embraced the move with her true adventure. She fished, hunted and raised a few orphaned animals from time to time, including her special “Baby Doe”. They returned to Arkansas in 1974 and began to build their home, White Ridge. As the house began to take shape, Elsie loved being hostess to family gatherings and large get-togethers. She enjoyed “White Ridge” to the fullest. In 1976, Mr. White took ill. Elsie lovingly took care of him every day until his death on December 15, 1982.

Elsie’s life was an adventure for her. She was a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother and a friend. She enjoyed genealogy, photography and was a proud member of the Chickamauga Indian Tribe. Elsie loved music, fashion and her beloved “White Ridge”. She accepted her Lord and Savior at age nine and was baptized in Rock Creek. She was a faithful, humble servant of the Lord. She loved her faith and never wavered in her devotion to Him.

Elsie is survived by her son, Jimmie (Sally) White; her grandchildren, Jimmie John (Marissa) White and Amie White (Patrick) Dillawn; four great-grandchildren, Jimmie, Paislie, Finnlie and Greyson; and numerous nephews, nieces and extended relatives and friends.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to a charity of your choice.

Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com. You may watch Elsie’s memorial video by clicking on the Tribute Wall tab above on this page.

“But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light so that others may see plainly that, which they have done has been done in the sight of God.” John 3:21

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elsie Mae Burgess White, please visit our flower store.

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