Patricia Harper White

Patricia Harper White, 86, of Atlanta, Georgia passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 19, 2021. She was born November 28, 1934, in McRae, Georgia and was the daughter of Gertrude Harper and William Brooks, Sr. (father) and Olin Harper (stepfather). She is preceded in death by her parents, brother William Brooks, sister-in-law Ann Brooks, and son David Olin White. Patricia was an incredible musician and her life centered around her passion for music. From a young age, she showed a great interest in music, and started piano and singing lessons. Church activities were a big part of it as well. She decided to follow this pathway, and enrolled at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia where she truly became a star. Her voice teacher was Vladimir Zorin, a renowned vocal coach who had immigrated from Russia following the war. Her vocal qualities soared! Through her college years, she spent summer months at the Junaluska Methodist Assembly in North Carolina, hired as one of the four original soloists with the well-known conductor, Glenn Draper. A beautiful young lady inside and out, she gained the title of Miss Wayne County and went on to be the runner-up in the Miss Georgia pageant, and of course, was winner of the Talent Division. Following her years at Wesleyan, she ventured to New York where she was accepted as a student of William Hermann, who, at the time, was considered the top vocal coach in New York City whose students had an “open door” to the Metropolitan Opera stage. She studied there with a schedule of language lessons in Italian, French and German, vocal lessons daily and a weekly exercise routine that included personal training with Joe Pilates – whose exercise techniques are known across the globe today. After two intense years, she felt a calling to return home to Georgia and began teaching in Savannah. Around that time, she reunited with her college sweetheart, Ferrell White, and the two got engaged and later married in November of 1960. After living in Atlanta a few years, they were transferred with Ferrell’s business to the Chicago area. Both Patricia and Ferrell continued their love of singing, and even sang a duet on a church-packed Sunday in Evanston, Illinois for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the featured preacher. They later went on to be hired soloists and section leaders at the Village Presbyterian Church in Northbrook, which became their hometown church for over 20 years. The Whites greatly enjoyed their time living in Northbrook, Illinois and grew their family there. Their beautiful and much-loved children came along – David Olin in 1966 and Margaret Lillian in 1969 – and brought them more joy and happiness than can possibly be described. Patricia taught and impacted many children through the years as a teacher of both piano and voice in her home. During the last 13 years in Northbrook, Patricia became the choir director at St. Peter United Church of Christ. In 1990, after Ferrell’s retirement, the family moved to Alpharetta, Georgia. They became very involved in Peachtree Presbyterian Church. At this time, Patricia auditioned for and was selected to sing throughout the years with the Robert Shaw Chorale and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, something she considered to be an incredible privilege and honor, which included singing in the 1996 Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The year 1994 was a time of great change for the White family, as Ferrell and Patricia parted ways and David passed away at the young age of 27. Patricia stayed in the Atlanta area near to her daughter, Margaret. She continued to teach piano and voice to numerous students in the area and her teaching slots were so coveted that she always had very long wait lists! She enjoyed being very active in the local Music Federation Club and judging the state level music competitions for children and teens. She loved traveling to the beach with Margaret and Michael, traveling on “road trips” through the states with her brother, William and sister-in-law, Ann, as well as friends. Patricia was a tender-hearted mother, sister, and friend who loved and lived life with grace and a great sense of humor. She deserves to be remembered as a woman of strong faith and Christian beliefs who lived a long, happy, productive life. She was a faithful wife, and a loving and devoted mother, family member and friend. The world is better because she lived! She will be missed dearly by all who love her. Patricia is survived by her daughter, Margaret White; former son-in-law, Michael Pupillo; sisters Jolinda Elmore and Nell Taylor; brother Kin Brooks; favorite first cousins Dr. James and Judy Holland; and many other beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 17, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at the Dunwoody United Methodist Church Chapel, 1548 Mt. Vernon Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338 (business casual attire). There will be a private family service held in Jesup, Georgia on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at 11:00 a.m., where her ashes will be interred beside her loving parents.