Like thousands of Mathews County young people before him and after him, Jeff White went to the city to seek his fortune. And he did extremely well, rising through the ranks, like the hero of a Horatio Alger novel, from the mailroom to CEO of his company.

He grew to know the rich, the famous, and the influential. He lived for many years in Atlanta, Ga., and retired to Washington, D.C. But Jeff White never forgot Mathews and returned to his home in the county, where he died Saturday, as often as possible.

It does not suffice, however, to say simply that "he never forgot." He shared his success in tangible ways. After retirement, Jeff White, in partnership with his wife and high school classmate Roz who survives him, entered into an energetic advocacy for Mathews County, especially its young people.

Recognizing its loss, Mathews County has lowered its flags to half-staff through Friday, the day of his memorial service.

The list of benefactions is many. Chief among them...