Ivory Joe White

A Celebration of Life for Ivory Joe White,72, of Toney, Alabama will be 11:00AM Saturday November 18, 2023 at Bell P.B. Church with Elder Benjamin Burt officiating.  Inhumation will follow in Decatur City Cemetery.  The body will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral.  Public viewing will be Friday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Reynolds Funeral Home. 

 Ivory Joe White was born in Decatur, Alabama on December 17, 1950.  He was the eleventh of fifteen children born to the late Will White, Sr. and Mary Bailey-White.

Ivory Joe was a very rambunctious child, who was loved and adored by his family. He grew up during segregation and successfully navigated through that time by having a close-knit family that looked out for one another. During his teenage years he formed the singing group The IJW’s (Ivory Joe White’s) made up of childhood friends. Ivory Joe graduated in 1969, the last class of the historical Lakeside High School. Upon completing high school, he moved to Chicago, Illinois with his brothers - Tommy Lee, Clarence and Akil ‘Carnell’ White.  Ivory Joe quickly adapted to city life and never looked back.  He used his out-going personality to make a place for himself in a new environment.  He flourished as an entrepreneur owning and operating multiple businesses.  While living in Chicago, Illinois he met and married Bonnia Garrett a native of Decatur, Alabama.  This loving union produced three sons - Shawn Lamar White, Brian Toran White and Marcel White.  From a second marriage to Brenda White (Tribbet), he had borne to him Taji White and Tamara White. 

In 2017, Ivory Joe returned to Alabama, where he reconnected with his family and friends. He joined Bell Primitive Baptist Church in Decatur, Alabama, where he was a faithful member and usher.  As a result of declining health, his eldest son Shawn and his wife Pam cared for Ivory Joe until he departed this life.

Ivory Joe was the life of ‘every’ party.  He was a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. He departed this life on Friday, November 10, 2023. 

Precious memories of Ivory Joe will be cherished and honored by his wife, Brenda White, of Chicago, IL.

Children: Shawn Lamar White (Pamela) of Toney, AL; Brian Toran White, Marcel White and Tamara White of Chicago, IL; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Siblings: Viola Jackson of Decatur, AL; Estelle Cohen of Detroit, MI; Will White, Jr. (Minnie) of Decatur, AL; Tommy Lee White (Peggy) of Huntsville, AL; Alberta White of Decatur, AL; Akil ‘Carnell’ White (Sandy) of Smyrna, TN; John D. White of Decatur, AL; Danny Saafiyah (Carolyn) of Columbia, TN; Phyllis Scott (Danny) of Decatur, AL; and Toney White of Houston, TX.

Ivory Joe was preceded in death by: his parents. Will White, Sr. and Mary Bailey-White. Taji White (son); Sam Etta Garrett (sister); Clarence Edward White (brother).

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