TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
Post retirement, Brother Weathersbee spent much of his time operating The Rendezvous at American Beach, a popu- lar recreation spot and African American landmark, until it closed in 2003. He also enjoyed spending time with friends at places such as Jack’s Sandwich Shop and the Gate City Golf Association. Brother Weathersbee was initiated into the Gamma Lambda of Kappa Alpha Psi ® at Huston-Tillotson University, on May 21, 1950 and was a distinguished 50 Year Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fra- ternity, Inc. He was a member of Second Missionary Baptist Church for most of his life, and in later years, attended Saint Paul A.M.E. Church in Jackson- ville, Florida. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Wallace Zanders Weathersbee; sister, Dorothy Weathersbee Mangram; daugh- ters, Tonyaa and Avis Weathersbee; nieces, Willean Tarver Hadley (Herbert) and Gloria Rose Lockley (James); sister- in-laws, Laura Zanders Rose & Janice Blount; longtime friend and former col- league, Jimmie A. Johnson; several other beloved nieces and nephews, as well as a host of grand-nieces, grand-nephews, godchildren, relatives and devoted friends.
music scholarship. He continued his athletic ability as one of FAMU’s leading pitchers, as the baseball team won con- ference championships three consecu- tive years. He was also inducted into the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame and the Gallery of Distinction for Education. Dr. White earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Florida A & M University. He also attended Columbia University where the Master of Arts degree was conferred and Nova Southeastern Uni- versity where he earned a Doctorate of Education. He began his teaching and coaching career in Okeechobee, Florida, where he taught for two years before being drafted into the United States Navy. While serv- ing in the Navy as a Personnel Man and a Navy Seal, Dr. White also coached and played basketball and baseball for the Sixth Fleet. As one of Duval County’s most out- standing educators, he started his pro- fessional career as a sixth grade elemen- tary teacher and an assistant football and baseball coach at Matthew W. Gilbert Junior-Senior High School. He later be- came the basketball coach at A.L. Lewis Elementary School. When Eugene J. Butler Junior-Senior High School was opened, Dr. White was named Athletic Director and head football coach. When he was named Assistant Principal of Butler, the teachers integrated and he was named the first Vice Principal of a predominately White high school, Robert E. Lee. After one year at Robert E. Lee, he was promoted to principal of Eugene J. Butler Junior-Senior High School. After much racial unrest, Dr. White was appointed principal of Jean Ribault Senior High School where he was instrumental in leading Ribault to be ranked fifth academically among all Duval County high schools. Dr. White was the first African American Principal of Jean Ribault High School. Dr. White was noted for his no non- sense disciplinary policies as well as his compassion for students. After four years at Ribault, he became one of the
first Black area superintendents in the history of Duval County. He served as Area Superintendent for 13 years before becoming Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and retired in 1999 as the Chief Operating Officer for Duval County Public Schools (DCPS). He was recognized by the Duval County Public School Board on November 1, 2011 with the naming of the Jean Ribault High School athletic field in his honor as Dr. Alvin G. White Trojan Stadium. After retirement from DCPS, he served as an adjunct professor at FAMU and Nova Southeastern University. He also served as the Director of the School of Education at Jacksonville University. Dr. White became a nationally recog- nized chair and State Specialist with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on School Im- provement. Dr. White was merited with several prestigious awards and commen- dations both locally and nationally. Dr. White was a 1952 initiate the Alpha Xi of Kappa Alpha Psi® at of the Florida A&M University, where he served as Polemarch. He was a Life Member and member of the Jacksonville (FL) Alumni Chapter. Other affiliations include Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Phi Epsilon Kappa, Phi Delta Kappa, NAACP Vice Chairman of Education Committee, Johnson Branch YMCA Board of Direc- tors. He was a member of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church where he served on the Mission Board, was a former Senior Warden, Lay Reader, Chalice Bearer and an Acolyte. He authored “Education is NOT a Four Letter Word” recounting life from child- hood to today, Dr. White tells his story of growing up in Jacksonville, Florida as a child whose goal was to succeed, but distractions often loomed near. The title tells of the need for education not to be something that is laughed about, looked down upon, or dismissed in the neighborhoods of young people today. Education should not be an awful “four- letter” word, but rather something that is desired and achieved without negative
Dr. Alvin G. White 1928–2017
Trailblazer in Education Administration Dr. Alvin G. White, passed away peace- fully on April 28, 2016. A native of
Jacksonville, he entered St. Pius
Catholic School at four years old and attended local pub- lic schools, graduat- ing from Stanton Sr. High School, where he became a star baseball athlete lead-
ing Stanton to two city championships. He took great pride in being a member of the drama and Latin clubs while in high school. He attended Florida A&M University (FAMU) on an athletic and
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