Daisy Elizabeth White, a life-long resident of Maury County, died Monday, October 25 after a brief illness. She was the youngest daughter of Henry George and Elizabeth “Bessie” Shires McCollum and sister to nine siblings. Her maternal Shires and Chunn lineages date back to the earliest settlers of the county, while her paternal grandmother Callie Abernathy McCollum’s family were early Giles County pioneers.
When Mrs. White was eleven years old, and three other children still lived at home, her father was killed in a logging accident. After this tragedy, the family pulled together — and her half-sister Octie, in particular, supplemented the family finances with her salary from a bookeeper’s job in Nashville.
While growing up, Mrs. White attended schools at Bryant Station, Fountain Heights, and Columbia Central High School. As a young girl, she was quite athletic. She ice-skated on frozen ponds and rode a former racehorse name Spot to school. At Fountain Heights, she was a guard on the girls’ basketball team.
After high school, she worked at Dixie Manufacturing Company before marrying the love of her life, Jack White, in 1944.
They had known one another since childhood, both having attended Smyrna Church, as well as, the same schools. In 2019, they celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary at Life Care Center while recuperating from illnesses. The large turnout of friends and family was a testimony to their shared ministry. Brother White was a Church of Christ minister for 55 years.
Mrs. White was known for her love and knowledge of antiques, for her very funny sense of humor, and for her kindness. She was a member of the New Lasea Church of Christ.
In addition to one brother, Knox McCollum of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, Mrs. White is survived by two sons, Jack White of Livingston, Alabama and Dr. John White of Columbia, as well as, two grandchildren, Mary McCollum White and Henry Tartt White. She was predeceased by two brothers, John Baxter McCollum, and H. T. McCollum, as well as, seven sisters – Octie, Mary Jake, Catherine, Lucille, and Nan McCollum, as well as, Emma McCollum Lee and Zula McCollum Westmoreland.
The family wishes to thank Midge Sullivan and Peggy Thrasher for their dedication as caregivers, as well as, Hayley Kimbrell of the Medical Group of Columbia, and Stacey Goats of Caris Palliative Care. Special thanks also are extended to Peggy Jones for her many kindnesses to the White family.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with John Waldrum and Steven Jackson officiating. Burial will follow in Haynes Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 12:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.
Pallbearers will be Randy Jones, Sam McDaniel, Chad Westmoreland, Jimmy White, Ken Lee and Kevin Lee.
The song service will be conducted by singers from New Lasea Church of Christ.
Honorary Pallbearers Larry Jones, Dwight Hardison, Greg Grissom, Knox McCollum, Harold Delk, Colonel Thomas Vaughn, the members of the churches where she attended, and the members of the Livingston, Alabama Church of Christ.
The family suggests memorials to New Lasea Church of Christ, 1570 Lasea Rd, Columbia, TN 38401 or Columbia Academy, 1101 West Seventh Street, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.
