Pillar of service: Jack White leaves behind a heartwarming legacy of love

Jack White sits and chats with the crochet group Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, at First United Methodist Church in Brownsville where the Widows Grief and Support group meets every other Wednesday. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)

Jack White, a humble humanitarian and beacon of inspiration, has died.

He spent countless years of his life servicing homeless populations and organizing programs to ensure those in need could receive services that would routinely elevate their quality of life.

He is remembered by many as an approachable, un-intimidating man, possessing a heart driven by generous charitable values, and a soul designed to offer a helping hand to those in need.

Good Neighbor Settlement House, a nonprofit dedicated to assisting those in need, announced White’s death on Monday.

“His leadership was instrumental in establishing programs that continue to serve as a beacon of hope for many,” the nonprofit wrote in their announcement.

White was formerly the organization’s executive director, and his work there has been described as revitalizing and expansive in servicing vulnerable populations. He was known for approaching challenges and complexities with expertise he garnered while operating homeless shelters and programs in New York City.

White began his venture voluntarily leading Good Neighbor Settlement House in 2016. He retired after three years packed full of service to the Valley’s most disadvantaged populations, while expertly laying the groundwork for future social workers to follow for generations to come.

Good Neighbor Settlement House offers a plethora of charity-based services, including a multitude of programs geared toward meeting the basic needs of impoverished persons and families. They house a soup kitchen and food bank, operate a hygiene program offering warm showers, provide free medical consultations as well as other resources and services.

In this June 2016 file photo, Jack White stands for a photo outside the Good Neighbor Settlement House. (Jason Hoekema/The Brownsville Herald)

White’s touch was felt across all of these offerings.

He has been applauded for renovating the complex and once seemingly problematic systems of the nonprofit and turning it into a cohesive and sustainable source in the community.

Prior to his work there, he amassed a vast history of public service, from working as a social worker, to his plethora of good-doings as a member of the Methodist Church, to educating future generations as a lecturer at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

According to White’s professional colleagues, he also worked in Washington D.C. as a government advisor regarding poverty, including the leading factors as well as the hardships faced by many across the country.

Bill Reagan, former executive director of Loaves & Fishes of the RGV, worked alongside White on many occasions, and the two bonded over their shared service to underprivileged Valley residents. They knew each other for 15 years.

Reagan looked back on their shared sense of the overwhelming situation in 2019 that brought a great influx of refugees to the Valley. He also commented on how White took over the Good Neighbor Settlement House when it was in a tough period, suffering from a drop in fundraising and leadership.

“He saved the organization,” said Reagan. “If it wasn’t for his assistance, Good Neighbor Settlement House wouldn’t be here today.”

Retired social worker Jack White is pictured Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, at Venture X Brownsville. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)

He said White had a vast understanding of charitable services thanks to his colorful background in the field, adding that his expertise ran much deeper than many of his colleagues. According to Reagan, White was acutely aware of the root causes of homelessness and poverty, opening the door to address the social drivers of the issue directly.

Yet, his humble demeanor was unwavering. Reagan attested that he approached every challenging complexity with a healthy dose of humility.

His motivating drive? His heart, says Reagan.

“His only interest was doing whatever he could to help somebody,” he said. “The little things were as important to him as the big issues. … He just wanted to serve.”

Sister Norma Pimentel of the Diocese of Brownsville looked back fondly on her work alongside White. She called him an incredibly compassionate individual.

She reminisced over their collaboration servicing influxes of immigrants and asylum seekers. She described him as instrumental through the care he provided to people of all ages, from children to the elderly.

Good Neighbor Settlement House Interim Director Jack White gives a tour Saturday, April 30, 2016, of the facility that helps the homeless in Brownsville. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)

White sprung into action during President Donald Trump’s first administration and helped develop the model to assist asylum seekers released onto the streets of Brownsville by Border Patrol after those individuals were processed.

Even well into his retirement, he continued to dedicate himself to public service, consistently brainstorming new ideas to help those in need, Pimentel said. She said for his whole life, he embodied faith in action through his devoted charity.

“He was a pusher,” said Pimentel. “A pusher for the Lord.”

Pimentel shared her hope that White is remembered for the pillar of strength that he was, inspiring a caring community with his generosity

“He lived out his faith by a giving of himself,” said Pimentel. “He cared. He really cared about people who were suffering.”

Funeral services for White are set for June 7 at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Brownsville located at 1225 Boca Chica Blvd.

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