Teresa Jan White

Miss Teresa Jan White, age 56, of Tampa, Florida, died Monday, September 24, 2012 at Pepin Heart Hospital, Tampa. Miss White was a resident of Rome for over 50 years before relocating to Tampa to live with her sister Marie.

Teresa was a survivor and had suffered many health setbacks over the years. She was born a "blue baby" and had open heart surgery at age 1 and age 2. She suffered a stroke during the second surgery that left her physically challenged her whole life. Thanks goes to the Rome Shrine Club funds that aided the health battle that Teresa would fight. Teresa was born with Tetralogy of Fallot which is a rare condition that only 2 births out of 10,000 have this diagnosis. Her prognosis was 5 years. Following the second operation she developed pneumonia and a blood stream condition that required 20 weeks at Emory Hospital and the Shrine Club again came to her aid. Teresa White was Rome and Floyd County's Heart Poster Child with Mrs. Lillian Carter, mother of former President Jimmy Carter, by her side. Many children have had corrective surgery for this heart condition due to the knowledge that surgeons gained thru Miss White's battle.

Teresa never let her health dampen her beautiful smile and loving heart. She loved everyone especially Jesus, loved to attend church at Sunny Hill Baptist and never let anyone forget her love and admiration for Elvis. Her love for her family was immeasurable. She wanted her brothers and sisters near her and could never get enough of their company. She knew that their love would protect her and wanted their presence with her until her departure into Jesus' open arms. To her family she was the sweetest angel that God ever put on earth.

Teresa was preceded in death by her parents Euell Rudolph White and Willie Jackson White; two brothers, Franklin and Jeff White; loving aunts and uncles, Robert and Dorothy Lary (Rome), Frank and Dorothy Jackson (Rome), Lyman and Opal White (Sugar Valley), Jack and Elwanda Serritt (Resaca), Wilma and Tom Watters (Sugar Valley), and Harold and Eunice White (Rome). Also, by her nephews, Skylar Ashley and Todd Adair Ables.

Teresa is survived by her loving brothers and sisters, Marie Hooper of Tampa, Florida; Travis (Linda) White of Rome, Jerome (Sherry) White of Rome; Vera (Doug) Gandy of Atlanta and Cindy (Brandt) Johnson of Nashville, Tennessee. She is also survived by her nephews and nieces, Will Hooper, Chris Hooper, Russ White, Jeremy White, Benji White, Allen Ables and Bethany Johnson. Thirteen great nieces and nephews also survive. Special family friend, Earl Elliott and her cousins survive.

Teresa will be laid to rest beside her dear mother on Sunday, September 30th, in Rosedale at the New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery during a private family burial.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Teresa's name to the Cemetery Fund at New Hope Baptist Church.

Online condolences may be expressed and the guest book signed at www.maxbrannonandsons.com. Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home of Calhoun, GA, a legacy of compassion and care, is in charge of funeral arrangements for Miss Teresa Jan White, age 56 of Tampa, FL.