Iona White
March 7, 1928 - July 14, 2024
Obituary
Sunrise: March 7, 1928
Sunset: July 14, 2024
Interment will take place at Spring Hill Cemetery in Magnolia Springs, TX
Mrs. Iona White was born March 7, 1928 in Magnolia Springs Texas to the union of Belvie and Charles “Charlie” Crawford, whom both preceded her in death.
She was one of thirteen children: Jennie (Uncle Preacher) Miles (both deceased), Azzie Lee (Melvin) Evans (both deceased), John Henry (Creola) Crawford (both deceased), Maggie Lee (George) Wilson (deceased), Gladys Mitchell (deceased), Minnie Bolden (deceased), Timothy (Rose) Crawford (both deceased), and Charles Melvin (Eva Jo) Crawford (deceased), Charlene Brown (Robert) (both deceased), Robert Crawford (Minnie) Houston, TX, William Crawford (Helen) Seattle, WA, Oplena (Amos) Refour, Seattle WA.
Iona’s younger years consisted of working the fields in Texas. She graduated from Walnut Hill High School in Magnolia Springs, TX. Later attended Prairie View A&M University. She worked in Houston as the “Help” (like in the movie) then she moved to Seattle and got her license as an LPN in 1953.
Iona accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior early in life. When she came to Seattle, she was a member of New Hope Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. C.E. Williams, House of Refuge Pentecostal Church under the leadership of Bishop R.J. Causey and Causey Memorial under the leadership of Marion Causey.
Iona worked at Seattle General Hospital where she found her BEST BEST friend, Mrs. Marie C Allen. Also, she met and cherished her friendship with Mother Bula Breland. She also worked at the nursing home on 34th and Cherry. She fell in love with this area around the same time she met and fell in love with Alfred Hulland White. They married in 1956 living off 33rd and Cherry St. since 1960. It was a blissful marriage until the Lord called Alfred home on April 8, 2001.
After giving birth to her first child (Alfred H. White Jr.) she changed her occupation from nursing to a fulltime housewife. She enjoyed raising her children, but also enjoyed having her own money. She worked evening custodial jobs, so she could be home during the day for her husband and kids. She worked for Roger Wright, ABM and the City of Seattle where she retired. But that didn’t last long – she also worked as a Crossing Guard at TT Minor and Madrona Elementary School until 2014.
She was a lady of few words unless she was on the phone with her sisters or her BEST friend. She loved fishing (Moses Lake, Lake Campbell and Lake Washington) all night and into the wee wee hours in the morning. She also loved gardening. She would be outside gardening for hours and then complaining about her aches and pain the next day. And, much later in her golden years she enjoyed going to “The Shoot”.
At the age of 96, there were many family members that preceded her in death, but the two near and dear to her heart were her son, Alfred H. White Jr. and granddaughter, Morgan D. Ealom.
She leaves to cherish her memory, her daughters Marcia Ealom (Michael) and Rhoda Ransom (Michael), step-daughter Mary Radcliffe and daughter-in-law Yvonne White. Grandchildren: Claudette Hatcher, Tianya White, Michael Ransom II (Jennifer), Ezra Wallace, Justin Ransom (Desiree), Rebekka (Rory) Ross, Alfred H. White III (Taite), Anisia Roberts (Anthony), Marcus (Mackenzie) Ealom. Great-grandchildren: Ayla Ransom, Rory Ross III, Ryann Ross, Ruby Ross, Peyton Roberts, Olivia Roberts Xzavior Roberts, Alfred H White IV, Mia Ealom and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Acknowledgements:
The family wishes to acknowledge the love, warmth and kindness you have extended to our family during our time of bereavement. Your kind expressions of sympathy, lovely cards, floral arrangements, encouraging phone calls, texts, posts and prayers have helped us through Mom’s transition into eternal glory. May God Forever Bless Each of You.
The Ransom & Ealom Family
Poem:
When I Must Leave You
When I must leave you for a little while, Please do not grieve and shed wild tears And hug your sorrow to you through the years But start out bravely with a gallant smile; And for my sake and in my name Live on and do all things the same. Feed not your loneliness on empty days, But fill each waking hour in useful ways, Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer And I in turn will comfort you and hold you near; And never, never be afraid to die, For I am waiting for you! We part with our loved ones but not forever If we trust God’s promise and doubt it never.
