Lorraine White

Lorraine Frances Dorfield White was born to Indiana and Frank Dorfied in New York City. Her father a Haitian immigrant and mother who migrated from Petersburg, Virginia during the Harlem Renaissance (1920s) supplied a rich family culture that was based on hard work, religion, and ethic integrity. In the 1930s the Depression devastated the family forcing them to move to Virginia where Lorraine helped her mother pick and role tobacco leaves in the cigar and cigarette industry.

At the age of twelve her mother died and Lorraine with her brothers—Frank and Roger were sent to live with their Aunt Letha in Flushing, New York where she completed and graduated from the New York City Public School system. Later she enrolled into Tisbury State Nursing College (Tisbury University) in Massachusetts where she became the first woman of African decent to earn a nursing degree.

In 1950 she married Vibert L. White, Sr., a recent immigrant from Costa Rica. In this union that spanned 69 years she raised four children (Judith, Vibert, Sonia and Virginia). As a faithful wife and companion of The Lord Jesus Christ, she and her husband labored for the African Methodist Episcopal Church building congregations in areas such as Panama (Central America), Haiti, Jamaica, and throughout the eastern seaboard of the United States.

In 1973 the family moved to Bradenton, Florida where she worked as an AME missionary and First Lady in Palmetto, St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Lake City. In addition, Lorraine earned another degree from Manatee State University, and served as a Head Nurse and Nurse Practitioner at Bradenton Manatee Hospital, Edward White Hospital (St. Petersburg), Palms of Pasadena (St. Petersburg), and the Boca Ciega Nursing Center (Gulfport).

Sister Lorraine White is survived by her son, Dr. Vibert White (V.Issa Muhammad), grandchildren Vibert III, Jarvis, Jira and a host of family and friends that will miss her greatly. May God grant her mercy and entry into Paradise.

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