Her spirit lives on through her two sons, Terry "Gil" White, Jr. and wife Laura, of Easley, South
Carolina, and James Merchant White and wife Laurie, of Santa Fe, Texas; her grandchildren,
Brian White (Christen), Jenna Hunter (Jason), Scott White, David White (Lauren), Julie White
(Patrick), and Ashley Jungedeitering (Andre); and her great-grandchildren, Kyler, Harper,
Payton, Audrey, Rylie, Lucille, and Pierce. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband
of 66 years, Terry Gilbert White, Sr., her parents, and her sister, Monica Merchant Taylor.
Over her 85 years, Myrna taught us countless things—many of which could not be found in
books, but only in the stories she told or the meals she made. We learned:
● Basketball was the only sport worth perfecting—until your ankles gave out. Expect that.
● The word “well” is a verb. Depending on how you say it, with inflection or no inflection,
tone or no tone, it can mean about 47 different things.
● One needs at least 8 sets of dishes. One for each season obviously, plus in case you
needed to mix it up randomly on a Wednesday. No drink ever topped that first Hurricane
on Bourbon Street after marrying Terry and moving to New Orleans.
● She couldn't keep a plant alive, but she'd sure try and you should too.
● Café Du Monde was overrated—unless it was a Tuesday, when they fried them with fresh oil.
● Tony Chachere’s was better than Old Bay.
● Recipes were suggestions. Results were incredibly good, and unable to replicate.
● Tables must be set, preferably by children. Centerpieces are non-negotiable (garden variety, please).
● Chocolate pie healed everything, even if the recipe was different every time.
● Stuffing is not the same as dressing, and you should always make two pans.
● Christmas gifts didn’t need to be wrapped well. Kids don’t care.
● Every good kitchen has ten butcher blocks and at least two fridges, plus a deep freezer—for deer
meat or whatever the grandkids caught.
● Sad? Eat something. It’ll help.
● Label your casserole dishes in illegible sharpie marker so that everyone knows it’s yours. Pyrex is
valuable.
● There’s always something new at the “Wal-Mark,” so you should go ahead and visit one wherever you
travel. And walking around there is good exercise.
● The speed limit is a suggestion. But only for her, you should slow down.
In later years, she liked to say that she did alright—she and Terry had a good life. She never let
him forget about the plane he promised her in 1985. God, give her that plane now—she’s got
places to be and people to visit.
Flowers can be sent to Poplar Flat Baptist Church in Louisville, MS, or a memorial donation may
be made to the American Red Cross, Hill Country Chapter, a fitting tribute for someone who
nursed everyone around her and spent much of her adult life in Texas.
https://www.redcross.org/local/texas/central-and-south-texas/about-us/locations/hill-country.html
Funeral services will be held at Poplar Flat Baptist Church on Friday, August 1, 2025, under
the direction of Massey Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 10 am, followed by the
service at 11 am and a lunch afterwards.
