From the county’s Visitor and Information Center to the Boys and Girls Club, from the Williams Wharf Landing project to the White Trust that has become an indispensable part of the public school system, there is little doubt that Gwynn’s Island residents Jeff and Roz White have made Mathews a better community.

Now, the General Assembly has made it official.

A reception was held last Thursday at the Mathews County Visitor and Information Center to celebrate the couple’s numerous contributions, and to present them formally with a copy of House Joint Resolution No. 725, which passed unanimously earlier this year.

The bill, patroned by Harvey B. Morgan (R-Middlesex) in the House of Delegates and Ralph Northam (D-Norfolk) in the Senate of Virginia, commended the Whites for "their longstanding history of philanthropy and leadership in Mathews County."

Representatives of some the many civic organizations that have benefitted from the Whites’ largess took part in the event in the former Sibley’s General Store building that has, thanks in large measure to Jeff and Roz White, been transformed into a permanent home for MCVIC.

Amanda Taylor, chairman of MCVIC, related how, during a meeting of the Mathews Community Foundation three years ago, she had said that her group was searching for a home. She was somewhat taken aback when Roz White approached her after the meeting was over and matter-of-factly said, "I’ll give you X dollars if you’ll buy Sibley’s General Store." Taylor said that MCVIC jumped at the offer; after all, she said, "you don’t say ‘no’ to Roz."

With just two more payments remaining, the visitor center is a success, providing the county a tourism focal point, giving local artists a chance to exhibit their wares and preserving an important piece of Mathews history. "It’s because Roz and Jeff got us on our feet," Taylor said.

Inspired by the generosity, and aware that the gift to MCVIC represented just a small part of what the Whites have done for this community, Taylor approached county administrator Steve Whiteway about getting the General Assembly to recognize their efforts.

Whiteway, who said he was honored to be a part of this effort, first became acquainted with the Whites on a social basis, but soon learned of their extensive philanthropy. "We started to see the things they touched in Mathews," he said.

They grew up in Mathews, became successful by their hard work and talent, and returned to make Mathews a great community, Whiteway said. Jeff White, a native of Mobjack, served for 50 years with Equifax Inc., the Atlanta-based credit reporting and business information service, rising to the positions of president, CEO and chairman of the board.

"My wife Debbie considers you a role model," Whiteway said, adding that, to the youngsters of the Boys and Girls Club, White is simply known as "the guy who made this place happen."

Morgan, who was on hand to formally present the resolution, said that he has been a recipient of the gifts from another of the Whites’ beneficiaries—the Bay School Community Arts Center. The Bay School, he said, has provided artwork for display in his Richmond legislative office, "and we’ve actually sold some of them." Morgan also took part in this year’s Wharf to Wharf Swim to support the ongoing efforts at Williams Wharf Landing.

"I’ve seen the benefit of the work you’ve done," he told Jeff and Roz White. Morgan proclaimed his Mathews County roots, saying that "my youth, in the summer time, (was spent) on Whites Creek." The delegate also mentioned that he had followed in the footsteps of his mentor, the late John Warren Cooke of Mathews, who represented the region for 38 years.

"Even before this evening, we have been repaid many, many times," Roz White said. Mathews has always been their home and has provided them the foundation upon which they built their lives.

"We cannot tell you what this county and its people have meant to us," she said. "This is our hearts’ home."

"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts," she said. "And one other thing I want to say—we haven’t finished yet."

"I agree with everything she said," White chimed in. Among those attending the reception were supervisors’ chairman O.J. Cole, fellow board members Janine Burns, Neena Putt and Edwina Casey and the Whites’ daughter Lynne and son Robert Tyler.