Vernon White was born in Burleson, Tennessee to Marion Leon White and Isabella Alston White on May 4, 1932. Vernon was the third of six children and he lived on the family farm until graduating from Frazier High School and entering the military.

After the military, Vernon came back to Tennessee and enrolled in Tennessee State University. He then moved to Michigan where he worked for the General Motors Chevrolet Assembly Plant for twenty years.

Feeling the call of the Lord upon his life, Vernon chose to follow the path of his three uncles who were Methodist ministers. Vernon entered seminary, and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Theology from Methesco Theological Seminary in Delaware, Ohio.

After graduation, Vernon pastored Turner Chapel (James S. Thomas United Methodist Church), Canton, Ohio; and Centenary United Methodist Church, Youngstown, Ohio; as well as Centenary United Methodist Church in Akron, Ohio. Vernon also pastored St. Luke in Orrville, Ohio; Braden United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee; St. Luke in Alliance, Ohio; Spelman Chapel, Kent, Ohio; and when he retired, he served as Pastor of Senior Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Ravenna, Ohio, until joining St. John Christian Methodist Episcopal Church as an associate pastor until his death.

Vernon leaves to celebrate his legacy his wife, JoAnn; his children, Janice (Richard) Pitts; Tricia White Luellen; and Vernon R. White II; his grandchildren, Aliana (Alfred) Clark; Danielle Pitts, Eastin Luellen, Ellis Luellen, Eurston Luellen III (who preceded him in death), Kionna White, and Kiara White; and four great-grandchildren, Da’Nylah Jones, and Derrick Jones Jr.; and Charleston and Alayah Marie Gordon.

Vernon is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Odessa Rose, and Mrs. Ethel Hayes; and a host of nieces and nephews; two brothers-in-law, Dr. Roderick (Sally) Lee, and Atlas (Donna) Lee; and one sister-in-law, Sidney Grace Lee.

Special family friends, Dr. Rita Robinson and family, Attorney Bertram (Ophelia) Bell, and Brenda Collier; “Adopted” daughter, Tiffany Lundy and “Adopted” son, Derrick Tennial, and too many beloved church family and friends to name.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Marion “Billy” White, and two sisters, Elizabeth Johnson, and Birdie Wright.