Marion Earlene White

“Earlene” White of Athens, AL, passed away Feb 22nd, 2025 after a short illness.

 Marion Earlene Dance White was born on July 28, 1929, in Halifax County, VA.

She was the wife of the late Robert Chapman White. Although they met and married late in life, they enjoyed their 29 years of marriage in Forest.

She was the daughter of the late Harry G. and Ester A. Dance. She lived all her life in Virginia until 2019, when she moved to Athens, AL, where she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Shirley H. and Jeffrey Bridges.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Shirley H. Bridges; four brothers, Clyde W. Dance (Lorene), L. Albert Dance (Dot), C. Howard Dance (Rae) and E. Waverly Dance (Mary Lucy); her niece, Judy Dance Shumate; and her son-in-law, Gary Smith.

She is survived by a daughter, Nancye H. Smith of Cape Coral, FL; her step-son, Michael White and his wife, Renee, of Richmond; and son-in-law, Jeffrey Bridges of Athens, AL.

She had five grandchildren, Theresa Morgeson and her husband Steve, Jeffrey Smith and his wife Angela, Scott Smith and his wife Rebecca, Stephanie White Frost and her husband, Avraham, and Scott White; five great-grandchildren, Greyson Britt and his wife Anjana, Leora Grace Frost, Nathan Smith, Michael Smith, Jacob Smith and one great-great-grandson, Oliver Britt. She is also survived by one nephew, Michael and his wife, Iris of Danville and three nieces, Linda Lowery and husband, Jim, of Durham; Carolyn Dance of Virginia Beach; and Sylvia Handy and her husband, Roger, of Virginia Beach.

Earlene is also survived by numerous long-time friends in the area, as well as many co-workers from General Electric, where she worked for 26 ½ years, retiring in 1988.

She will be remembered by all for her soft, sweet, giving and loving nature and she will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved her.

A funeral service will be held in the chapel of Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, on Friday, March 14, 2025 at 1 p.m. with a visitation two hours prior to the service. Interment will follow at Virginia Memorial Park.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.