Funeral services Monday for former PRCC president

CLINTONFuneral services for Dr. Marvin Ross White, former president of Pearl River Community College, will be held at 1 p.m. Monday (Dec. 27) at First Methodist Church in Clinton.Dr. White, 89, died on Dec. 24. Visitation will precede the funeral service from noon till 1 p,.m. at the church with burial in Clinton.He served as president at PRCC from January 1968 until the spring of 1986. He was the only graduate of both Pearl River Agricultural High school and the junior college to ever serve as president. He served the high school as its principal and football coach.When the high school moved off campus, White became the registrar at the junior college, then the dean of the college before becoming president.Pearl River Junior College was his life from 1953 to 1986, said Lyda Sue Winegarden of Clinton, one of White two children. It was all our lives. He really loved that college.During Dr. White term as president, Pearl River marked precedented growth. Enrollment doubled. He increased emphasis in academic work and pushed toward a more comprehensive program for vocational, technical and industrial education.Building on the Poplarville campus during White''s leadership was extensive, beginning with the completion of the two buildings begun by former president Garvin H. Johnston. One was the Garvin H. Johnston Library and the other was Seal Hall, an academic building.In 1969, following Hurricane Camille, a new administration building was begun.During that period, federal funding was plentiful for new construction. In 1974, the athletic needs of the college were met with the construction of the Marvin R. White Coliseum. The coliseum was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but is scheduled to be rebuilt in the next two years.Each year, two PRCC students are recipients of the Marvin R. White Presidential Scholarship.Dr. White served Pearl River Community College with great distinction as the institution eighth president, said PRCC President William Lewis. He was and will remain a part of the fabric of the college.His leadership during the challenges of Hurricane Camille was, in particular, rather remarkable as he guided the college to the rebuilding of the Poplarville campus from the heavy destruction wrought by the storm. His vision established the Forrest County Center and his financial conservative approach provided the college with long-standing financial stability. He was a marvelous leader for our institution.Survivors include his wife, Marjorie, of 65 years, two children, Lyda Sue Winegarden (Husband Perry) of Clinton and Dr. Calvin White of Ada, Okla. (Wife Lynne), five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.