Blake White

The Reverend Robert Blake White, II, passed away on July 12, 2026, in Jackson, Tennessee after a long illness. Blake was born on June 24, 1950, in Jackson to the late Mac Pirtle and Marion Thompson White. He grew up in Bolivar, Tennessee, and graduated from Bolivar High School in 1968, where he was served as President of the Senior Class, quarterback for the football team, and was his class valedictorian.

He attended the University of Mississippi, where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1972. This began a life-time love of Ole Miss sports, especially the Rebel football team. After graduation, he attended Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, where he received his Master’s of Divinity. This started a five-decade career of preaching the Gospel faithfully in West Tennessee, including stints in Memphis, Munford, Collierville, Jackson, Bells, and finally at the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Bolivar, his boyhood church. He also worked for the Pictsweet Company in Bells for many years and retired as Head of Human Resources.

In 1973, he married Lynn Ellis of Oxford, Mississippi, with whom he would have three children. They raised their kids in Jackson, Tennessee, where he was very active in his children’s lives, supporting them in all their activities. He especially enjoyed coaching his kids in baseball and being active in his community. He served on the Board of the Directors of the University School of Jackson and later became known as the “Voice of the Bruins” for the University School of Jackson football team. He also served as past President of the West TN Personnel Association, the Jackson Chamber of Commerce Work Force Committee, and as Chaplain for many years of the Miss Tennessee Pageant.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Lynn Ellis White, of Jackson, TN, his three children Robert Blake “Bo” White III of Memphis, TN, Leah White Shanks (husband Grant) of Lebanon, TN, and Andrew Ellis White of Collierville, TN, and his eight grandchildren: Brinson White, Bealey Cate White, Ellis Shanks, Maggie Shanks, Mollie Blake Shanks, Mary Grant Shanks, David White, and Evelyn White. He is also survived by his sister, Suzanne White Smith (Larry) of Alamo, TN, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins with whom he shared many holidays and special occasions.

Serving as pallbearers are Bo White, Andrew White, Brinson White, David White, Grant Shanks, Brannon Kahlstorf, Blake Ward, and Carl Wirwa. Honorary pallbearers are Danny Cole, Bill Gayton, Jerry Gist, Steve Hammond, Wick Hearn, John Hodges, Sam Nuckolls, Stan Parker, Houston Payne, and Roy Watson.

Burial will be at Bolivar Memorial Cemetery in Bolivar, Tennessee, on Saturday, July 18, at 10 AM with the Reverend Will Chenault and the Reverend Randy Pierson officiating. Visitation will be 1 PM at Fellowship Bible Church in Jackson, Tennessee, followed by a Celebration of Life Service with the Reverend Dr. Eugene Brandt and the Reverend Randy Pierson officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Growing Legacy Campaign – Fellowship Bible Church in Jackson, Tennessee.