John Norris White Sr. passed away at the age of 75 on Feb. 27, 2015, at his home in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Visitation will begin at noon Sunday, March 1, 2015, at McClain-Hays Funeral Home in Philadelphia with a service at 3:00 and followed by a graveside service at Eastlawn Cemetery.

John was a native of Neshoba County, Ms.  He graduated from Philadelphia High School in 1959 where he was a two-time All-Choctaw Conference and All-State basketball star.  John would say, however, that his biggest high school achievement was landing his high school sweetheart and life-long partner, Gay Nell Rea.

A basketball scholarship took him on to becoming an All-Conference hoops player at East Central Junior College and Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Mississippi College Choctaw basketball team.  After earning his degree in Physical Education at Mississippi College in 1964, he accepted a basketball coaching position at Redwood High School.  After Redwood, John became the first boys’ basketball coach at Warren Central High School in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he and Gay Nell raised their three children, Gayla, Johnny, and Shawn.

At Warren Central, John led his Viking boys to a record of 242-97 including three conference titles.  He was a three-time Conference Coach of the Year at Warren Central where he touched the lives of countless young men, instilling his qualities of leadership, generosity, and kindness.  After earning a Masters Degree in Administration, John accepted a role as assistant principal at Warren Central.  This eventually led his career to Director of Athletics for the Vicksburg-Warren School District from 1985 to 1996.   As Director of Athletics, he helped lead a divided and segregated school system through a period of consolidation that thrives to this day.

John and Gay Nell retired to Neshoba County where John continued work in administration as an admired principal at Choctaw Central High School from 1996-2005.  Years later, in June 2014, John was notified that his peers had nominated and accepted him for induction into the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame.  This award, for John, was his most cherished career accomplishment.

He and Gay Nell finally retired from working life and enjoyed traveling as members of the Allegro 95 and Mississippi Travelers RV clubs. As an avid Ole Miss Rebel fan, John’s natural leadership continued to shine as he coordinated countless fish fry’s and tailgating chapters at Rebel football and baseball games.  His RV could always be found parked across from the baseball field at any home game and could be counted on hauling a family full to any Ole Miss bowl game.

John is survived by his wife, Gay Nell Rea White; his daughters, Gay La Jeanne (Gayla) Cagle (Rob) and Shawn Renae White (Roger); and his son, John Norris White, Jr. (Johnny). His legacy also includes three grandchildren:  Alayna La Jeanne and Jared Rea Cagle and Jade Star Mancastroppa. As the baby boy of a close-knit set of siblings, John is also survived by Joe White, Sue Chadwick, Ouida Williams, and Hugh White.

John was a member of First Baptist Church of Philadelphia, Mississippi, and leaves a legacy of extraordinary kindness and generosity to all who knew him.

Pallbearers will be Coach Walter (TLoyde) Wilson, Coach Robert Morgan, Ken Grogan, Coach Donnie Fuller, Bill Lea, Coach Rick Graham, Peter Pikul, Ted Long, and Larry Earves.