Mr. Ronnie Lowell White Sr., 82, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 3, at OCH Regional Medical Center in Starkville. He was the son of Jessie Lowell White and Margaret Iona White. He was born on May 1, 1940, in Webster County, Miss. After graduation from Eupora High School, Ronnie and his father owned and operated White & Son Service Station in Eupora. After his father’s death in 1964, Ronnie was accepted into the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol Training School. Upon completion, he was assigned to patrol in Quitman County, Miss.
In 1964, the Highway Patrol assigned Ronnie and four other troopers to enforce narcotic laws in the state of Mississippi. He was assigned to work and train with the New Orleans, La. Narcotics Unit. After returning from New Orleans, he was assigned to Leflore County, Miss. In 1973, the Mississippi Legislature formed the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Ronnie was given the opportunity to continue drug investigation with the new unit. He chose to stay with the Mississippi Highway Patrol and was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division. In 1986, Ronnie was promoted to the rank of captain and was assigned to supervise Troop D in Greenwood, where he supervised 10 counties in patrol activity. After retiring from the Highway Patrol in 1992, Ronnie was hired as Chief of Police in Greenwood, where he served until 2005. After retiring from the Greenwood Police Department, he served as Carroll County and Webster County Chancery Court Bailiff for several years. Ronnie graduated from Louisiana State University Law Enforcement Institute, Baton Rouge, La.; FBI National Academy Quantico, Va.; and University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Enforcement Supervisory Training. From 1987 until 2014, Ronnie also enjoyed his Brangus cattle operation.
Ronnie was the President of the Mississippi Chapter of the FBI National Academy. He was a member of the Mississippi Law Enforcement Association; the Mississippi Chief of Police Association; the National Association of Auto Theft; the Greenwood Rotary Club; the Carrollton and Eupora Lions Club. Ronnie served as a deacon of Carrollton Baptist Church and director of Carrollton Baptist Brotherhood. Ronnie is survived by his wife; Judy Dell Mitchell White of Eupora; three daughters; Debbie White of Louisville, Miss., Dawn Franklin McBee, Greenwood, and Lisa Mitchell (John) Hays, Hazelhurst, Miss.; two sons, Ronnie L. (Sheila) White Jr. of Starkville, and Mark (Paula) Burns of Stewart; three sisters, Marjorie (Billy) Nabors of Meridian, Miss., Nora Carroll of Eupora, and Sara (Raymond) Hitt, Eupora; six grandchildren, Ronnie L. White III, James W. (Paige) White, Malcolm (Bailey) McBee, David (Dena) Hays, Daniel Hays, and Mitchell (Madison) Burns; and six great grandchildren, Channing and Salem White, Thomas McBee, Carter Dinning and Noah and Emma Burns; and his special caretaker, Monique Hall. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie and Margaret White, his first wife, Dorothy Latham White; his second wife, Dorothy Carol White; his son-in-law, Dudley McBee; and his grandson, Miles McBee.
Funeral Services were held 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6 at Oliver Funeral Home Chapel in Eupora, Miss. with burial in Evergreen Cemetery in North Carrollton. The Rev. Travis Gray and the Rev. Johnny Lollar officiated.
The family asks that memorials be directed to First Baptist Church in Eupora, Miss. or Carrollton Baptist Church in Carrollton, Miss. Oliver Funeral Home of Eupora was in charge of all arrangements. You may go online and sign our guest register or leave a message of condolence for the family at www.ofheupora.com.
