John R. White was born August 23, 1948, in Memphis, Tennessee to the late Gene and Marjorie (Denker) White. 

He was baptized in the Presbyterian church where he attended with his family. He grew up loving to play sports, being an Eagle Sout, and watching the University of Tennessee football. He graduated from the University of Tennessee Knoxville as a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, served in the US Army, then returned to Memphis to attend law school at the University of Memphis. He spent over 30 years practicing law at the State of Tennessee.

He enjoyed hiking, road cycling, and especially enjoyed the good friends he made in those endeavors doing road races, cycling the Natchez Trace Parkway, and hiking parts of the Appalachian Trail and the Wonderland Trail in Washington State and climbing Mt. Ranier.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Dorothy Annette Armstrong White of Nashville, Tennessee, and a sister, Sandra Jean White Melancon (Todd) of Signal Mountain, Tennessee.

John left this earth January 7, 2026. A memorial service was held January 19, 2026 at St. David's Episcopal Church, Nashville, Tennessee.