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Submitted: 6/7/20 • Approved: 6/7/20 • Last Updated: 6/10/20 • R1322335-G1322335-S3
Neva Jane
Jan 13, 1935 - Oct 20, 2012
William Doyle
July 15, 1938 - Oct 6, 2018
Neva Jane Cram White, a resident of Searcy since 1970, was born Jan. 13, 1935, to George and Neva Cram in Heavener, Okla. She died Oct. 20, 2012, at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock at the age of 77. She was preceded in death by her parents; a 10-year-old sister, Dorothy; a son, Stephen; and two brothers, Chester Cram and Dale Cram.
Survivors include her husband, Bill; four children – Mark White and his wife, Connie; Laura Eads and her husband, Gary; Jonathan White and his wife, Cheryl; and David White and his wife, Katie, all of Searcy. Nine grandchildren also survive – Grant White and his wife, Natalie; Cara White, Emily Eads, Taylor White, Garrett White, Ethan Eads, Carson White, Easton Eads and Gabriel White. She is also survived by a brother, Stanton Cram, of Lowell, Ark., and many nieces and nephews.
Neva attended the University of Arkansas, where she majored in organ and voice. She taught voice and piano in Springdale Public Schools in 1957-58 before receiving a scholarship in voice from Eastman Conservatory in Rochester, N.Y., one of the top three music schools in the nation. While there, her piano accompaniment ability was discovered, and she began to develop what came to be perhaps her greatest musical talent. She later was recognized by the National Association of Teachers of Singing with the Brotherton award as an outstanding accompanist.
On June 27, 1959, Neva married Bill White, a pre-med and music major she had met at the University of Arkansas. They lived briefly in Charleston, W.V., before moving to Chicago for Bill to attend medical school. Following a medical internship at UAMS in Little Rock, Bill did a military assignment at an Indian Reservation in Oklahoma. Bill and Neva were back in Little Rock for his residency and a fellowship for three years before moving to Searcy in 1970.
Neva was a stay-at-home wife and mother until returning to the classroom at Harding University for 20-plus years. She taught voice and piano and accompanied for musicals, recitals and other performances until her retirement in 2003. Referred to by her students as “Mama Neva,” her voice and piano lessons provided students with what one former student called “so much more.” “She counseled and lifted us up, providing us not just music lessons but life lessons,” he said.
Whether student, friend, relative or perfect stranger, Neva was able to make each one feel as if he or she was the most important person in the world at the moment. “I always felt like my stock went up anytime I had her on my arm,” Bill said of her ability to engage anyone. He once approached as she was visiting with a total stranger just in time to hear her say, “Tell me what Jesus means to you.” Noel Whitlock, pulpit minister for the College Church of Christ, said, “Neva was one of the sweetest people who ever lived. She made the world a better place.”
Neva was always there for her children. Her picture appeared in the local newspaper when Jonathan was in high school as she sat on the bleachers in 30-degree temperatures to watch him play tackle for the Harding Wildcat football team. In spite of her demanding schedule as a teacher and accompanist, “Ahni” or “Nanny” attended every event possible when her grandchildren were performing, appearing or playing. “She believed in all of us,” Emily said. “She often told us that we could do anything we wanted to do, and she had a way of making us believe it.”
Neva enjoyed working in the yard, and she loved to read, especially books that challenged her faith and inspired her to greater service in the kingdom of God. Before her health declined, she accompanied Bill on medical mission trips, contributing her encouraging spirit and personal touch to the lives of people in other countries. As one family member said, “You could always count on her.”
A member of the College Church of Christ, Neva was a Bible class teacher and Christian mentor to women of all ages. She was a member of the local Beethoven Club and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Arrangements are being directed by Roller-Daniel Funeral Home in Searcy. Visitation will be Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Roller-Daniel. Services will be at the College church Thursday at 3 p.m. Interment will be at White County Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Neva White music scholarship at Harding University, 915 E. Market Ave., #12238, Searcy, AR 72149
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Obituary
arkansasonline.com
Dr. William Doyle White, 80, of Searcy, Ark., died Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, at Unity Hospital in Searcy. He was born July 15, 1938, the son of S.D. White, Jr. and Estelle (Welch) White. He was a member of the College Church of Christ, where he served as an elder and song leader for many years. His commitment to God inspired his attention to words and music that best fit the theme of the sermon, and he spent many hours selecting songs most appropriate to the day's worship. He gave of his heart, his time and his personal skills to mentor and minister to those who came to Monday night Caring & Sharing and the medical clinic at His House, as well as one-on-one sessions with many who sought his counsel.
Bill was a graduate of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, Class of '55. He earned a bachelor's degree in music at the University of Arkansas in 1959. From the second semester of his freshman year until his graduation in 1959, he was selected for a lead in all musical theatre productions and operas produced by the department. An avid runner, he lettered in track and field in high school and college and later ran numerous marathons, including the well-known Boston marathon.
On June 27, 1959, Bill married Neva Jane Cram, a music graduate he had met at the University of Arkansas, and whose piano prowess earned numerous accolades as a performer and accompanist. They were married for 53 years before her death. To this union were born Mark, Jonathan, Stephen, Laura and David.
He attended medical school at the University of Chicago, from 1959 until 1963. During medical school, he continued to pursue his interest in music at the Music Conservatory, singing a lead role in Rigoletto and other operas, and performing with the Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus at the Apollo Opera Company. He was chosen the Outstanding Male Vocalist under 30 in Chicago and sang an aria with the Chicago Symphony. He once served as a judge for Metropolitan Opera competitions. Even as a practicing physician, he performed numerous solos with the Arkansas Symphony, the Arkansas Choral Society, Opera Memphis, the Harding University orchestra and chorus, and in many regional symphonies and oratorios.
After graduating medical school, Bill completed a one year internship at UAMS in Little Rock, and then served the United States Public Health Service as a commissioned medical officer with the Indian Health Services hospitals in Pawnee and Claremore, Okla., until June 1967. He then returned to UAMS to complete residency in internal medicine and fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He moved to Searcy in 1970 to begin his practice.
Bill's medical practice spanned 48 years, including service as team physician for the U.S. Olympics women's volleyball team and men's boxing team in 1979; medical director for Track & Field National Finals for several years; 20 years in internal medicine and gastroenterology at Searcy Medical Center; team physician for 17 years for Harding University and Harding Academy football teams; professor of medicine and associate dean of the College of Health-Related Professions at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; associate chief of staff at the Veterans Hospital in Little Rock; and medical director of Harding University's Physician Assistant Program.
A family man, he spent thousands of hours in his later years attending choral performances, recitals and athletic events involving his grandchildren. In particular, he was pleased to have taught his grandsons how to play golf and to have given them insight into the most important matters of life. In her Facebook post announcing his death, Emily (Eads) said, "Heaven gained a sweet soul today. Poopah was one of the kindest, most generous people. He was such a big part of our lives – he was at every performance, football game, birthday party, graduation and so much more. I love him so much and can't imagine how life will be without him."
He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Neva; and an infant son, Stephen. Survivors include his children – Mark (Connie), Jonathan (Cheryl), Laura (Gary) Eads, and David (Katy); nine grandchildren – Grant (Natalie) White, Cara (Andy) Sills and Garrett (Jenna) White; Emily Eads, Ethan Eads and Easton Eads; Taylor White, Carson White; and Gabriel White; five great-grandchildren – Roxie White, Jaxson White, Adalynn White; Palmer Sills and Wyatt Sills.
A celebration of the life of Dr. Bill White will be Thursday, Oct. 11, at 10 a.m. at the College Church of Christ in Searcy, with visitation Wednesday, Oct. 10, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the College Church family room. Pallbearers will be Grant White, Andy Sills, Garrett White, Ethan Eads, Carson White, Easton Eads and Gabriel White.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Partners in Progress at http://partnersinprogress.org. Services are under the direction of Roller-Daniel Funeral Home. Online Guestbook:www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.
Published October 10, 2018
Contributed on 6/7/20 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 1322335