Shellye Waller White

Shellye Waller White, 71, a southern lady with a fear of the Lord, a love for Jesus Christ, and a servant’s heart, passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in Shreveport, Louisiana, after a courageous battle with cancer. Visitation will be at Trinity Baptist Church, 5895 Bert Kouns Industrial Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana 71129 on Friday, March 3, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Rose-Neath Cemetery, 5185 Swan Lake Road, Bossier City, Louisiana. Officiating will be Pastor Chris Hough.

She was born to Harry and Bernice Waller in Lexington, Kentucky on February 16, 1952. The family moved to Bruce, Mississippi in 1956, where her father owned the Bruce Telephone Company. Shellye graduated with honors from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Music, and where she was a member of the Ole Miss band. She married Doug White while a student at Ole Miss, and after graduation they moved to his active duty assignments with the United States Army. They lived in Baton Rouge while Doug was in law school, and then to Shreveport, where she opened the first Yamaha Music School. She and Doug raised their family where the church was the center of their society, and where they found lifelong friends, and made an impact on many lives. They were founding members of Heritage Baptist Church in 1991, and have been members of Trinity Baptist Church since 2007. 

Shellye had a particular gift for working with young people. She played hymns, led the handbell choir, and taught young ladies a “Titus 2” class, where she taught skills for living with poise, grace, and a servant’s heart. She formed a number of “Kitchen Teams” of teens, where they learned leadership, teamwork, safety, preparedness, and a variety of skills to serve lunch to the congregation on Sunday. She and Doug taught them to work and study hard, lead with kindness and by example, and to have fun and a zest for life. Then they taught them how to line and ballroom dance! Many wonderful memories were made. Shellye was a wonderful example of the “excellent wife” of Proverbs 31:10-31.

Before her illness, she and Doug were notorious for their “road trip vacations.” They went to the end of the driveway and then decided to go “left or right,” eventually traveling without reservations to the four corners of the US, visiting all 50 states, Canada, and later visiting almost all of the continents, including Antarctica. They were in the midst of an around the world cruise in 2023, celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary, when she became seriously ill.

Shellye was preceded in death by her parents, Harry Edward Waller and Bernice Mae Connely Waller; her daughter, Jennifer Carol White, and her son, Benjamin Joseph White. She is survived by her husband of fifty years, Walter “Doug” White; her sons, Brian Christopher White and wife, Rachel, and David Jonathan White, and her grandchildren, Caleb Josiah White, Elliana Carol White and Andrew Clark White. She is also survived by her sister, Connie Waller Collins, of Oxford, Mississippi, and her children, Charlie Allen, Matt Allen and Jacob Allen; and her dear friend and cousin, Jackie Jo Courts and husband, Bill of Elliston, Kentucky, and her children, Rachel Harp McGee, Rebecca Courts White, and Kenny Courts.        

The family is very grateful to Dr. Christopher Snead, and his staff at the Highland Schumpert Cancer Center for their kind, compassionate and professional care. They are also very grateful to the doctors and staff of Whangarei Hospital, Ward 16, in Whangarei, New Zealand for their excellent and professional care and compassion.

Honoring Shellye as pallbearers will be David Jonathan White, Caleb Josiah White, Luke Deutsch, Bradon LeBlanc, Dylan LeBlanc and Nathan Sanders. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Trinity Baptist Kitchen Teams and Elliana Carol White.

The family suggests memorials may be made to Trinity Baptist Church, 5895 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport, LA 71129 or to the charity of the donor’s choice. 

                   “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.” Proverbs 31:10