Lenora White's Obituary
Lenora was born to the late Tillman Jones Jr and Bessie Jones on August 12, 1951 in Jackson, Mississippi and passed on July 9, 2013, peacefully at Sutter General Hospital. She was the eldest of eight children.
In 1969, she graduated from Callaway High School in Jackson, Mississippi. In high school she was voted best dressed for her great sense of style and personality.
Lenora helped raise her six sisters and one brother until her late dear mother, Bessie Jones passed at the tender age of 39. Upon her mother's passing in 1975, Lenora decided to move herself and her siblings to Buffalo, New York for the next eleven years.
Shortly after moving to Buffalo, Lenora met and married the love of her life, James C. White on December 31, 1977, where she gained an extended family of two sons and a daughter. In October 1981 Lenora and James White welcomed a happy baby girl Tameka Nakia to the family. Five years later in July 1986 the White's were blessed with a bouncing baby boy, Jamel C. White.
Two weeks after the birth of Lenora and James' baby boy the family loaded up the truck and moved to Oakland, California. The family planted its roots in Oakland, California for 18 years and Lenora went back to school to pursue a career in nursing for over nineteen years. In fall 1999, Lenora proudly sent her first born off to pursue a college education at the University of California, Davis. As the protective lioness she was, she could only live apart for four years and then she chose to join her daughter and move to Sacramento, California in 2004.
In August 2010, Lenora happily welcomed her first grandchild, Jada Marie White. With tears in her eyes, Lenora vowed to love and protect her precious baby granddaughter just as she had done with her two children, six sisters and one brother. One year later in September 2011 Lenora bravely watched as her son left the 'nest' to become a proud soldier serving in the United States Armed Forces. Lenora was overjoyed to see her children excel in life and begin to plant their roots to grow from. In November 2012, Lenora anxiously awaited the arrival of her second grandchild; a grandson named Jayden Mekai Island.
Lenora united with her home church under the leadership of Pastor Bella Madera in fall 2011 and faithfully attended until her recent illness. Lenora was employed as a nurse for over eight years at Sutter General Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility.
Lenora loved to garden, ride her light blue 'beach cruiser' bike, cook, dance, sing and was an avid reader. Lenora was a happy'go-lucky type of gal who was loved by many. She was kind hearted and extremely generous, the kind of person who would give you the shirt off of her back.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Tillman Jones Jr and Bessie Jones; one sister, Victoria Jones; maternal grandparents, Hal and Gussie Winters; paternal grandparents, Tillman Jones Sr and Willie Lee Jones.
She leaves to cherish her memory: One son, Jamel C. White (27); one daughter, Tameka White-Island (31); one son-in-law, Rosendo Island; two grandchildren, Jada Marie White (2), Jayden Mekai Island (8 months); One brother, Tillman Jones Jr. III; five sisters, Lessie Washington of Buffalo, NY, Vera Jones of Buffalo, NY, Terry A. Jones-Jackson of Oakland, CA, Marion Jones-Healy of Campbell, CA, Roxie Solis of San Antonio, TX and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Lenora White please contact Kymberly Lawrence at (916) 922-5833
Donations may be made in her name to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
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