William Garrard White

William Garrard White, known to most of his friends as simply Garrard or GW, passed away on May 10, 2017 of natural causes. He was 76 years old. Born on February 17, 1941, Garrard was the only child of Emmett O’Neal White and Mabelle Garrard White of Greenwood, Mississippi, who both predeceased him. He is survived by his daughter Antonia White of Gulfport, Mississippi and son Steven White of Portland, Oregon, as well as three grandchildren, Emmet White, Zoe White and Taylor Ford and his former wife Evelyn Nickerson of Gulfport, Mississippi. He was a skilled golfer from an early age, winning the Mississippi Junior Championship in 1957. Garrard attended Southwestern University (now Rhodes College) in Memphis and Delta State University and served in the United States Army in 1960, stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and the Mississippi National Guard. He followed his father into the golf profession, working at golf clubs in Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. He relished his work as a golf instructor, taking a personal interest in his students’ development. During the early 1970s, he served as the golf coach for Biloxi High School, nurturing a number of young players who went on to compete regionally and nationally. He could accurately quote winning golf tournament scores from a half century ago without need to refer to historical source material. He authored numerous books including “Dirty Old Pros,” his lively, first-hand account of his relationship with the game of golf, including his time following his father on the professional golf circuit during the 1940s-50s as well as keen observations about the evolution of the game about which he had strong and well-informed feelings and opinions. Garrard was the consummate raconteur, and his stories of sport and personal adventure remain legendary amongst friends and family alike. He loved music (including rock n’ roll, jazz and the blues), movies and popular culture, and enjoyed discussing both until the wee hours. He was blessed with the gift of friendship, enjoying a wide and varied circle of cohorts, compatriots and co-conspirators. Garrard also enjoyed travel, venturing throughout the South and Southwestern regions of the United States, finding golf courses and other interesting attractions in offbeat locations. He thought nothing of loading his car and hitting the road for parts unknown, always ready for adventure. Garrard will be deeply missed by his friends and family, who will hold him and all of his wonderful stories in their hearts. His memory will be honored on Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 5 to 7:00 p.m. at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport. He will be interred at Forest Hill Midtown Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee with a graveside service on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. preceding his burial. Donations may be made in his honor to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, a cause long supported by Garrard and his family.