Mr. Robert L. White

Robert Leon White was born January 8,1931, to teenage parent Helen (King) Payne and Robert Doolin, who both preceded him in death as well as his two (2) sisters, Zanna Berry, and Gloria Williams. As an infant, Robert was adopted by Lawrence and Adelle White, which also preceded him in death. Adelle later married John Blount, and they continued to nurture their beloved son Robert. Affectionately called Bobby, he was full of energy and was reared in the Leeds community of Kansas City. Robert was a product of the Kansas City, Missouri School District.

The work ethics of his hard-working parents rubbed off on him and at an early age he sold “The Kansas City Call” newspaper. He could be heard singing the chant, “Get your KC Call Paper,” as he went door-to-door selling the black newspaper.

As a young man, Kansas City Jazz and Gospel musicians took center stage in Robert’s thoughts and his parents encouraged him by paying for piano lessons for him. He soon branched off to explore his talents to sing at Morning Star Baptist Church where his family attended. During this time, young Robert professed a faith in Christ.

At age nineteen (19), Robert met Mae Orene Love, a Texas native that sang on the KC gospel circuit. They married and to that union three (3) children were born, Barbara White, Sherrye White, and Michael White.

Robert was drafted into the United States Army in December 1954 and served his country until November 1956. He served as a driver in the 2nd Armored Division “Hell on Wheels.” Upon his Army discharge, he returned to Kansas City.

Robert’s music career was still being developed while he worked otherwise, and in 1957, he started working for the KC School District as a custodian and worked over thirty (30) years.

As a musician throughout the years, Robert used his gift of playing the piano at many churches, which include, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Prince of Peace, Pleasant Green, Olivet Baptist Church, Mt. Tabor, Mt. Zion, Mt. Calvary, and Gethsemane New Testament Baptist Church, just to name a few. He also was called upon to assist in services at funeral homes, and individual soloists across the greater Kansas City area.

In 1960, he married Dorothy Mae Adams, and took on the responsibility of loving and raising his stepchildren, James and Brenda Stuckey, as his own.

For many years, Bobby and Dorothy sang as a duo throughout the continental US. In 2008, when his beloved Dorothy passed, he kept on praising God. In 2013, at the tender age of 82, he recorded his first CD that was released in 2014 on the Tastee-Tone Record label owned by his “special” friend, recording artist, Dave Keller. This project, entitled “NEVER GROW OLD, Brother Bob White, Gospel Organist from Kansas City,” breathed new life into Robert.

Daddy White leaves to cherish his memories his two (2) daughters Sherrye (Rev. Jehrome B. Randolph) of the home, KC; Barbara White-Tate, Greensboro, NC; one (1) Son, Michael White; also, son James Stuckey and daughter, Brenda Rollins, both of Kansas City. Grandchildren: Lee Law, Jr. (Amber), Tacoma, Washington; Nicole (Jonathan), Tacoma, Washington; Jehsen and Jehmes Randolph, Kansas City, Kansas; Matiaya (Ralph) Masterson, Lee Summit, Missouri; James Stuckey, Jr., Kansas City; Jalene (Jermaine) Mack, Houston, Texas; Robert Scott, Kansas City, Missouri; Jason (Nell), Olathe, Kansas; Javeon Stuckey, Houston, Texas; LaTonya Battles, Yolonda Rollins, Edgar Rollins, Jr. (Shareda); Kenyetta Rollins, all of Kansas City, Missouri. Great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, and nephew, friends and extended family, and a very “special” friend, Dave Keller (Vermont).

uneral services will be held Saturday, April 29, 2023, 12:00pm at Gethsemane New Testament BC. Interment XII Gates Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 10am-12pm at the church. Service conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website.

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