Essie White

Essie Alma Purvis White, age 93 of the Darlington Community of Walton County passed away Wednesday, January 6, 2010 in a Geneva, Alabama healthcare facility. She was born November 4, 1916 in Darlington the daughter of Marcus Lyon Purvis and Mary Jane Padgett Purvis. Mrs. White was no stranger to hard work, having worked for many years in the cotton mills, later, taking care of her mother and father, including gardening, to raise food for the family, along with the normal day to day chores of running a household before the advent of “modern conveniences”. Chopping firewood, washing clothes by hand, cooking meals on a wood stove and in addition to depending on her garden for vegetables, raised chickens for meat at meal time. From these trials of labor and caring for her family evolved a person the family says was the sweetest, most honest, hardworking person they have ever known. In her old age, finally there came some time for her, and Essie enjoyed her “soaps” on television but even then she was quilting so she might be productive. She was not afforded a lot of the tangible treasures this life has to offer, but she possessed a love for her God, and for her family, two things the hardships of life could never take from her.

Among survivors are her daughter, Janet Brown and husband Fred “Tiny”. Her sister, Nadine Boykin. Her grandchildren, Alice May Jones, Frederick Martin Brown, Jr. and wife Cindy, Richard Wayne Brown and Rebecca Sue Jennings and husband Dennis. Seven great grandchildren and seven great great grandchildren also survive.

Floral arrangements are being accepted. Visitation will be one hour prior to funeral time. Funeral services will be Saturday, December 9, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. in Darlington United Methodist Church with Reverend Jimmy Mashburn officiating. Burial will follow in Darlington Cemetery.