Etta “Jo” Nunley White, 98, of Iuka, MS, died Wednesday, December 16, 2015, at Southern Magnolia Estates in Iuka. Born in the country outside of Iuka, MS, on January 30, 1917, Jo married Morrison White from Louisville, KY, on March 25, 1934, in Tuscumbia, AL. Over the following ten years Jo delivered ten children, with the first five being boys. Jo was a member of the Iuka Baptist Church where she was a Girls Auxiliary leader and sang in the choir. She also worked on several committees and helped in the building of the first Educational Building. Jo designed and made many of the Iuka girls’ formal dresses without patterns. In 1965, Morrison and Jo moved to Jackson, MS, where four of their sons lived. Morrison became ill, and as a result Jo went to work as a fitter, first at Gus Mayers, and eventually retiring from Camille’s at age 80 ½. Some of her clients included Mississippi author Eudora Welty, several Mississippi governors’ wives, and former Miss America Mary Ann Mobley. Upon Morrison’s death in 1970, Jo had to learn to drive a car, take care of paying bills, and other activities. Jo began traveling the USA in 1977, especially the Northwest. She also traveled to Mexico and Canada. At age 75 Jo went white water rafting. Following retirement Jo began traveling to Europe. In a series of five trips overseas, she slept in a castle, dined at the highest altitude restaurant in the world atop a mountain in France, and visited snow-topped mountains in Switzerland. She also traveled up into the Arctic Circle to Svalbard Island and took a side trip to the Russian-occupied Pyramiden Islands. While in Norway, Jo stopped in Hell, so that she could see it frozen over. Of all her travels, though, Jo would say, “The U.S.A. has and is the best.” Visitation is scheduled for 4:00 until 8:00 p.m., Friday, December 19, at Cutshall Funeral Home in Iuka. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 Saturday, December 19, at Cutshall Funeral Home Chapel in Iuka, officiated by Bro. Johnny Hancock. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers include Earl Walker, Tucker Russell, James Grisham, Bobby Gist, Burlon Durham, and Hugh Van Presley. Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka, MS is entrusted with arrangements. She is survived by five sons, Thomas White (Judy) of Iuka, James White (Sue) of Starkville, Steve White (Sherry) of Florence, Fred White of Sumrall, and Morrison White (Barbara) of Pearl; one daughter, Edythe Bishop (Richard) of Houston, TX; sixteen grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, Morrison “Sailor” White; and her daughter-in-law, Beverly White. Jo deeply loved her family, her friends, and her God. In return, she was loved and truly blessed. She will be greatly missed. Memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Memorial and Honor Program, by phone (901) 578-2805, or online at www.stjude.org; or to The Gideons International, Tishomingo County Camp, P.O. Box 314, Iuka, MS 38852, or online at www.gideons.org.
