Jeff V. White, 87, died at his home on Gwynn’s Island, Va., on April 28, 2012.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Leonard and Florence White; five brothers and sisters, Carey White, Kirwan Rockefeller, Webster White, Margaret Davis and Louise Mendus, and a granddaughter, Laura.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Rosalyn; a son, Tyler (Annette Breigan); a daughter, Lynne (David Lowe); a granddaughter, Carolyn; a sister, Diane Gray (George); a brother-in-law, Walter Mendus, and several nieces and nephews.
Born and raised in Mobjack, Va., Jeff graduated from Mathews High School in 1942 and in August 1942 was employed by Retail Credit Co. (now Equifax, Inc.) in Washington, D.C. Jeff was drafted in 1943 and spent three years in the Army Air Force. He then returned to RCC, married Rosalyn in December 1946 and was transferred to RCC headquarters in Atlanta, Ga., in October of 1947. He remained in the Atlanta headquarters for his entire career, filling many positions and retiring in 1992 as Chairman of the Board.
Always the innovator, Jeff is best known in the credit reporting business for computerizing credit reporting and establishing the first national and international credit reporting network. He was very active in the civic life of Atlanta, heading committees of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, United Way, National Board of In-Roads, Inc., Board of Atlanta Literacy Action Group, Emory University Board of Visitors and National trustee of Boys & Girls Club of America. In 1996 he received the Herbert Hoover Humanitarian Award for his service to the Boys & Girls Club of America.
In 1989 Jeff built a second home on Gwynn’s Island and began to transfer his civic energy to Mathews. Jeff, working with the Mathews students, established the Mathews Youth Center that evolved into the Mathews Boys & Girls Club. He helped locate both The Bay School and the Visitors Center in their respective buildings. Grounded as a boy in his spiritual life as a member of Oak Grove Christian Church, Jeff joined the Presbyterian faith in Atlanta, was a charter member of two Atlanta Presbyterian churches, playing leadership roles in their growth. He served one year as Moderator of the Atlanta Presbytery. In recent years Jeff was a faithful member of Western Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.
Burial services for Jeff will be private, with a memorial service to be held at Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Mathews, Va., on Friday, May 4, 2012,at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers it is suggested that gifts in Jeff’s memory be made to the Mathews Boys & Girls Club, P.O. Box 521, Mathews, Va. 23109.