Carolyn Henderson White

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Frances Carolyn Henderson White, age 97, passed away on Monday, April 19, 2021, at Greenville Memorial Hospital. She was born on September 28, 1923, in Owings, S.C. to the late Merrill Bush Henderson and Era Milloree Crow Henderson.

She was predeceased by her husband, Luther Elihu White, a brother, Walter Henry Henderson and a sister, Margaret Curry.  She is survived by sisters Juanita Gray and Eleanor Brooks.  Her surviving children are James M. White (Martie) of Mint Hill, NC, and Frances W. Kalk (Rick) of Simpsonville, SC.  She deeply loved her five grandchildren (Merrill White, Adam White, Michael White, David Kalk, and Phillip Kalk) and her five great-grandchildren (Addison and Archer White, Audrey Kalk, Lawson and Brooke White).

Carolyn was graduated from Gray Court-Owings High School and was an honor speaker.  She was first employed at the Laurens County farm office.  She married Luther on June 6, 1942, and followed him to various Army postings until he went to serve in the Pacific Theater from 1944 through 1945.  After the war, she and Luther became partners with Earl and Hester White in Fountain Inn Plumbing and Electric Co until the store closed in 1981.

For more than 35 years, Carolyn served as a Red Cross volunteer, including fifteen years as a Gray Lady at the McLawhorn Clinic in Fountain Inn. 

Music was one of the great pleasures of Carolyn’s life and for many years she was an active member of the Fountain Inn Music Club.  She was a life member of the National Federation of Music Clubs and chaired several committees of the state organization.

Gardening and art were also two lifelong hobbies.  Her family and many friends enjoyed the produce of her garden and pecan trees.  Her house was filled with many paintings and drawings.  She also traveled extensively and had many souvenirs from around the US, China and Europe.

The Fountain Inn Activities Center was a major focus of Carolyn’s interest for more than 20 years.  In 2017, a major addition to the facility was named in honor of her and Luther.

Carolyn grew up in Friendship Baptist Church, Owings, SC, moved to Durbin Creek Baptist Church with her husband, and, since 1976, was a member of First Baptist Church of Fountain Inn.  While a member at First Baptist, she taught Sunday each fourth Sunday at the nursing home on Gulliver Street.

Carolyn was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 123 and distributed poppies for donations to raise funds for various veterans’ needs.

Carolyn wrote an autobiography, Together Forever, with the aid of her daughter.  The book centers on her life with Luther but includes other family information and historical data including GPS coordinates of many places described in the book including burial sites and locations of many buildings such as the old Ebenezer schoolhouse which are no longer standing.  The self-published book is available in the Fountain Inn and Charlotte libraries.  About 500 copies were sold and donated to friends and acquaintances in the Fountain Inn area.

The Funeral Service will be held on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Fountain Inn First Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Cannon-Byrd Memorial Park. The family will receive friends in the Park following the Committal Service.

The family requests that memorials be sent to Fountain Inn First Baptist Church. The family is at her daughter’s home at 109 Red Oak Ct., Simpsonville 29681.