Leanne White, 64, worked for S.C. Federal Credit Union
October 24, 2024
Carla Leanne White of Pawleys Island died Oct. 12 at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. She was 64.
Known as Leanne, she was born in Banner Elk, N.C., and lived in Linville, N.C., until moving to Charlotte. Her fondest childhood memories were of peaceful summers spent with her grandmother, Annie Lee Crinkley, in Newland where they tended the garden, walked to the post office and grocery store, played rummy (so Leanne could learn her numbers), cooked, washed laundry by hand, drank Pepsi Cola, and on Saturday nights visited a neighbor with a TV so they could watch “The Lawrence Welk Show.”
She was a graduate of Harding High in Charlotte and earned an associate degree in business from Horry-Georgetown Technical College. She worked in advertising at the Charlotte Observer, which she loved, and remained friends with many of her former co-workers. Here on the Grand Strand, she worked in newspaper advertising for many years. For the last decade, she was employed with S.C. Federal Credit Union, where she established extremely close ties.
Mrs. White was active at Pawleys Island Community Church. One of her favorite activities at the church was the annual drive to fill shoe boxes with necessities and gifts for children in other countries who otherwise would receive nothing for Christmas. She took it as a personal challenge to strategically pack as many small treasures as possible in the boxes.
She was an unapologetic Beatles fanatic and owned every note of music the band ever recorded. She also possessed enough Beatles memorabilia to open a Fab Four souvenir store, but never would part with any item, because each was precious. George was her favorite lad from Liverpool and “Revolver” was her favorite album.
She was an avid reader and traveled extensively. She enjoyed movies, especially old black and white dramas. She excelled at word games and puzzles. She had mastered the art of relaxing by a roaring fire pit and hot Weber grill while instructing her husband on the finer points of the grilling process.
Mrs. White was a passionate and knowledgeable sports fan, often attending games dressed in her team’s gear. She especially rode the highs and lows with her University of North Carolina Tar Heels, and was quick to jeer Duke or N.C. State whenever possible.
She was a hard-core lifetime follower of NASCAR and was a walking encyclopedia of stock car facts. She was always ready to tangle with anyone – and often did – who didn’t realize King Richard Petty is the greatest driver of all time.
Leanne was loyal and dependable. Once you were her friend, you had a rock-solid friend for life.
She is survived by her husband, Ray; her daughter, Rachel Clement (Tom) of Johnson City, Tenn.; her step-brothers, Alan Greene (Melanie) of Concord, N.C., and Todd (Sarah) Greene of Concord; her grandchildren, Hudson and Ava Clement; a special niece, and nephew, Danielle Bo and Jack White; a special uncle and aunt, Paul and Linda Crinkley of Newland; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Her mother and step-father, Ruth and Doug Keller, and her father, Carl Greene, died before her.
A celebration of her life will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Pawleys Island Community Church chapel.
Memorials may be made to the Make Room building fund at Pawleys Island Community Church, c/o Mike Fields, P.O. Box 777, Pawleys Island, SC, 29585.
