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Obituary for Marvin L. "Sonny" White, Jr.
Marvin L. “Sonny” White, Jr., 75, passed away Wednesday, October 6, at his home in Jackson, Mississippi. Sonny was born in Hattiesburg to Marvin L. and Mary Dorsett White. After his early years in Wiggins, the family moved to Moss Point where Sonny was soon joined in life by his sisters Addye White Robertson and Mary Paulette White. He graduated from Moss Point High School and continued his education at Mississippi Gulf Coast Jr. College, where he received an Associate of Arts degree and Mississippi College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. His lifelong love of history led to a Master’s Degree in history from the University of Mississippi. Sonny began his career as a teacher in the public schools of Mississippi and Florida. His love of teaching was equalled by his love of education. He returned to Ole Miss to continue his education in the field of law and received his Juris Doctorate degree in 1977. His legal career spanned almost 45 years, all of which were spent in the criminal litigation division of the Attorney General’s Office. He was admitted to practice before the trial courts of Mississippi, the Mississippi Supreme Court, the U.S. District Courts of Mississippi, the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. While Sonny became one of the foremost experts in capital litigation in the United States, he never lost his passion for teaching. He lectured, held classes, conducted seminars, and generously gave much of his time to teaching. He never tired of mentoring his colleagues in the art of appellate litigation. As an Assistant Attorney General, Sonny was a respected litigator who represented the interests of the people of Mississippi seven times before the highest court in the United States. Sonny loved and was loved by many but most especially his family. He was preceded in death by his mother and father and is survived by his sisters Addye (Bill) Robertson of Moss Point and Paulette White of Madison. He is also survived by three nephews, a niece, many great nieces and nephews, and his three rescue pups. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tired Dog Rescue, Post Office Box 10751, Gulfport, MS 39505, or New Stage Theatre, Post Office Box 4792, Jackson, MS 39296. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 9 at St. James’ Episcopal Church, 3921 Oak Ridge Drive, Jackson, The Rev. Beth Foose, officiant. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the service in Fowler Hall at St. James’. Graveside services and interment will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 10 at Wiggins City Cemetery, Wiggins, MS, Rev. John Tucker, officiant. Honorary pallbearers are Sonny’s nephews Rusty Robertson, Sidney Robertson, Paul Benjamin Robertson, and great nephews Dalton Henderson, Wyatt Henderson, Hunter Robertson, and Eli Robertson.
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