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ROXIE HENRY WHITE

Houston, Texas’ Fifth Ward community paid tribute to one of its most prominent living historians and/or history makers when they celebrated the long and illustrious life of Roxie Henry White at Our Lady of the Sea Catholic Church, 1401 Fidelity St, on Nov. 25, 2003. The contributions made this great man were extolled during the order of service that included, Fr. Charles Andrus, Hilda Wiltz, Dana Wiltz-Beckham, Rachel White, Christopher Barnes, Andrianna Clark, April Sloan-Hubert, Earnest Washington, Helen Wiltz-Shelvin, Lewis Myers, Jr., Monsignor Patrick Wells, Fr. Charles Andrus, and Fr. Robert Ennette.

The Shadow Pallbearers (Christopher Below, Ken Killingsworth, Earnest McCullough, Sr., Earnest McCullough, Jr., Alison Tom, Huey Beckham, Aaron Troy Wiltz, Joseph Howard Wiltz, David Carl Wiltz, John Wall, Reginald Below, Joseph Clark and Joseph Filer Wiltz) were proud to defer to active pallbearers that represented The Fourth Degree Sir Knights of St. Peter Claver. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Holy Name Society, National Pharmaceutical Association, Texas Southern University, George Simon, Walter Stell, Joseph Robicheaux, Sam Barnum, Dr. Phillip G. Wiltz, Dr. Charles Wiltz, Talmadge Sharpe, Dr. Charles Wiltz, Austin Douet, James Rose, Gene Hickman, Dr. Harold Stafford, Dr. Levi Perry and Dr. Bill Harrell were honorary pallbearers for White, who was May 29, 1920 to Beulah Shepherd and William White.
Roxie moved to a booming Houston, Texas and was raised by his uncle and aunt, Henry and Alice Anderson, during a social transition that many historians considered a golden era for African Americans, insofar as more and more descendants of slaves were, not only becoming educated, but they also were becoming less satisfied with Jim Crow laws and discrimination. They were sick and tired of being sick and had begun to make their disaffection know to the nation’s racist leadership. African Americans who had fought for the right to vote made their power felt at the poll, when they voted as a bloc in 1924 to elected the first female governor in Texas’ history, “Ma” Ferguson, who promised to run the Klan out of Texas.

Cliff Richardson, the fiery publisher of the Houston Informer (the editorial voice of African Americans at the time…just as African American News & Issues is today) rallied Black voters. His stirring editorial was entitled: “Let Us Not Slacken Our Speed, But Let Us pull Full Speed Ahead to Distant Ports of Economic Independence, Racial Solidarity, Interracial Amity.” And apparently, that message was the precursor for future generations, which included Roxie, who behind graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School in 1940. For sure, Roxie was influenced by Carter Wesley’s editorial that reminded his readers how important it was to be “an honest, upstanding Negro instead of trying to be white,” but because his dedication to his country, Roxie enlisted in the United States Army and served his country during World War II, from 1940-1945.
Roxie, who was discharged with the rank of sergeant, was one of 1, 154, 720 African Americans who had put their lives on hold to defend their country. Without missing a step, Roxie began his formal education at Houston College for Negroes, now known as Texas Southern University. There he received his degree in pharmacy in 1952. On May 5, 1954, he married his soul mate and sweetheart, Mary Marjorie Wiltz. To that union Craig Anthony was born. Roxie was a pioneer in our community and help pave the way for up and coming pharmacists, as well as entrepreneurs. He was instrumental in training many young African American men and women in the field of pharmacy. Roxie began his career with Wooten Pharmacy.

He later purchased the store in 1964 and changed the name to what most people in the fifth ward community know and loved as" White's Pharmacy" .He worked there until his first retirement in the 1980's. While still employed at White's Pharmacy, Roxie opened and managed the Citizen's General Hospital Pharmacy. Roxie got the itch to practice again and worked at Ben Taub's Hospital Pharmacy until his second retirement in 1995.He was a faithful member of Our Lady Star of the Sea. As a dedicated member of the parish he served as a lector, Eucharistic Minister, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Holy Name Society. Roxie was a member of the Knights of St. Peter Claver 3rd and 4th Degree. He was a member of the Houston Pharmaceutical Society, the National Pharmaceutical Society, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the Rho Chi Honor Society.

As a humanitarian, Roxie would deliver medicine to the sick and shut-in. And many times he not only wouldn’t charge a fee for delivering medicine, but also brought the needy food so that they could take their medication properly. Without a doubt, the world was made a better place to live because Roxie Henry White passed this way. Roxie was preceded in death by his parents Beulah Shepherd and William White, as well as his guardians, Henry and Alice Anderson.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Mary Marjorie White, son, Craig Anthony White, daughter-in-law, Laurie Chevalier White, grandsons, Christopher and Matthew and granddaughter Rachel Catherine White, sister-in-laws, Inez Narcisse, Lucy McCullough, Barbara Wiltz, Delores Wiltz, Ethel Wiltz and brother-in-laws, Howard Wiltz, and David Wiltz, a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.