Opal Porter White, 105, of Statesville, N.C., passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at her home surrounded by family and friends. Opal was born on February 3, 1920, in Grassy Creek located in Ashe County, N.C., to the late Warner and Blanche Young Porter. She attended and graduated from Healing Springs High School in Ashe County. During her formative years, Opal was a member of Pleasant Home Baptist Church in Grassy Creek. On November 23, 1948, she married L. G. White of Statesville, N.C. They attended Oakland Presbyterian Church, where they remained members throughout their lives. L. G. preceded Opal in death on December 11, 2000, after 52 years of marriage.
Opal was the second of nine children. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister and brother-in-law, Hazel Porter Everhardt and Tom Everhardt; and four brothers and their spouses, Brown and Virginia Porter, Feb Porter and his former wife Elizabeth, Ralph and Patricia Porter, and Clive and Lucille Porter. She was also preceded in death by her parents-in-law, Thomas Smith White and Sally Mae White; her sisters-in-law, Faye White Alexander and Rena White Millsaps, and their husbands, Ervin Alexander and Harold Millsaps; her brother-in-law, Tom White, and his wife Janis; and her brothers-in-law, Buck Page, Blaine Beaty, CDR Pat Grillo (USN), and Frances Presley.
She is survived by three sisters, Lorane Porter Page, Ann Porter Beaty, and Audrey Porter Grillo; one sister-in-law, Sibyl White Presley; and many nieces and nephews.
During World War II, Opal worked in a munitions factory in Bel Air, Md. After the war and prior to November 1948, she also worked at Lance Packaging Co. in Charlotte, N.C. After her marriage to L. G., she moved to Statesville and was an avid horticulturist. She loved to work in the garden, preserve and can food, grow flowers, and share her home-cooked meals and biscuits with others. She remained active in the garden beyond the age of 100, overseeing the planting, harvesting, and preserving of seasonal crops with the utmost attentiveness. Opal will always be remembered by her family and friends for her kindness, hospitality, delicious meals, and a contagious smile and laugh. Many of her nieces and nephews share fond memories of time spent with her. From fishing trips at the family farm pond to raising chickens and making preserves, she embodied the meaning of a life lived to the fullest.
In recent years, Opal was blessed to be cared for by a team of wonderful and attentive nurses who tended to her every need while helping her do things she enjoyed like snapping and canning beans. The family is grateful for their exceptional and compassionate care of Opal during her final years. The family is also grateful for the care provided by the Gordon Hospice House of Statesville, and for the support from their many loving team members and volunteers.
Memorials may be made to the Gordon Hospice House in memory of Opal.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 8, 2025, at 3 p.m. at Cool Spring Community Church, located at 1902 Mocksville Highway, Cleveland, NC 27013.
Public visitation will be held at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home on Thursday, December 4, and Friday, December 5, from 12 noon until 6 p.m., and Monday, December 8, from 9:30 until 11 a.m.
Words of comfort and fond memories may be shared with the family at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com.
Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the care of Ms. White and her family.