Obituary of Frances Bass White

Frances Bass White, 92 years old, a Durham, NC, resident, and a beloved mother, former pastor’s wife  and registered nurse, died on May 8, 2022. She lived a long life with an amazing zest for living, working and loving her family, church and community.

Frances was the wife of James G. White, Jr. (“Jim”), the daughter of Roy O. Bass and Vera D. Bass, the sister of Jack O. Bass, sister-in-law of Jeanette G. Bass, aunt of Jack O. Bass, Jr., and daughter-in-law of James G. White, Sr. and Frances H. White, all of whom predeceased her.

Frances is survived by her children, James Graham White, III, Vera Sue White Russell, Jeffrey Bass White and their respective spouses, Dail C. White, Kenneth W. Russell, Sr. and Laure P. White, her grandchild, Graham W. White and his spouse, her step-grandchildren, Kenneth W. Russell, Jr. and Shane D. Russell, and Shane's spouse, her brother-in-laws, Charles A. White and Lawrence H. White, her sister-in-law, Jeanette White, and 5 step-great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.  

Frances was raised in Hendersonville, NC. She left home in 1947 to attend and graduate from nursing school at Charlotte Memorial Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. In Charlotte, Frances met and married Jim White, a United Methodist minister who passed away in 1986. Frances and Jim lived in many North Carolina towns including Smithfield, Lumberton, Kenly, Biscoe, Carrboro, Mt. Olive, Cary and Durham. In 2017 Frances moved to the Croasdaile Village Retirement community in Durham where she was living prior to her death.

Frances worked as a registered nurse for almost 50 years. She completed her nursing career at the United Methodist Church Retirement Home on Erwin Road in Durham, NC. where she worked for 22 years in positions such as Director of Nursing and Staff Development Coordinator. While working in Durham Frances became certified in geriatric nursing and was later tapped to sit on the Board of Nursing for the State of North Carolina. 

 The family of Frances White is sure that she would have been pleased to know that people donated in her memory to any religious or social cause where the funds are used to uplift human beings such as her favorite places to donate - the Durham Rescue Mission and her church, Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church. The address for donations to Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church is 1209 North Elizabeth Street, Durham, NC 27701. To make an online monetary donation to the Durham Rescue Mission visit durhamrescuemission.org and click on "Ways to Help", then "Tribute Gifts".

Funeral Services will be held at the Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church this Friday, May 13, 2022, at 11:00 AM, located at 1209 North Elizabeth Street, Durham, NC 27701. Visitation with the family will be immediately prior to the funeral at 10:00 AM in the church sanctuary.  A brief graveside service will immediately follow the funeral at Westwood Cemetery at the corner of Davie Road and Fidelity Street in Carrboro, NC.