Rock Hill, South Carolina – David A. White, prominent Rock Hill attorney, civic leader, and philanthropist, died Nov. 23, at his home. He was 89.
Born in Anderson, S.C., April 14, 1935, he was the eldest child of James Lafayette White, Sr., and Mary Altman White.
“David was known across South Carolina for his skillful handling of complex business and real estate disputes, establishing Supreme Court precedents in many novel and significant cases,” said a former colleague. “He enjoyed a well-earned reputation for pursuit of the truth and the orderly development of the law, placing him in the highest regard by the courts, his fellow attorneys and clients.”
A 1993 article in The Herald stated: “David White is known in legal circles as a disciplined attorney who likes to take unpopular cases.”
“He enjoyed representing the underdog, and was known to fight city hall and win,” said Clarkson McDow, another longtime friend and attorney. “He combined a keen intellect with a top-notch legal education, and he brought integrity and an old-fashioned work ethic to his practice. Perhaps his greatest contribution to the legal profession was his mentoring of many younger attorneys.”
In 1956, while an undergraduate of the University of South Carolina, White was elected president of the student body, the first non-fraternity member to hold that position since the turn of the century. He attributed his success to knocking on doors of student veterans, whose needs largely had been ignored by their student government.
White graduated from Harvard Law School in 1960. While at Harvard, he served as chair of the Harvard Law Forum, organizing a series of speakers that included former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt; Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro; and Allen Ginsberg, acknowledged poet of the Beat Generation. He also led the Cambridge Yachting Society, which he described as a raucous drinking club.
After law school, he deferred a legal career to fulfill his military obligation, serving as lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry in 1961-62.
He began his law career with the Rock Hill firm of Roddey & Sumwalt, later Roddey, Carpenter and White. He later was partner in the Charlotte firm, Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, where he practiced until reaching their mandatory retirement age. He then opened his own office and continued to practice law for the rest of his life.
Among his many honors were serving as director and president of the S.C. Bar Foundation; member of the S.C. Supreme Court Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline; and member of the S.C. Supreme Court Board of Law Examiners.
In addition to the legal profession, White was known as a clear-eyed and fair businessman. In the 1970’s, he and others developed the Yorkshire apartment complex. He also was an investor and owner of the Guardian Building, formerly the historic Andrew Jackson Hotel.
His contributions to the Rock Hill community were significant and wide-ranging. He was elected by the S.C. General Assembly to the Winthrop College (now University) Board of Trustees where he served for 12 years, including a term as board president. He also was director and president of the Winthrop College Foundation. He established a fund to underwrite a recording label for the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
White also served on the board of the York County Free Medical Clinic.
David was known for his support of the arts and his love of music, particularly the operas of Richard Wagner. He was a devotee and honorary member of the York County Choral Society.
He was a founding member of the Q.E. Britt Society and remained a devoted member of that book club until his death.
White loved nothing more than a spirited discussion of politics, history, literature and music at the family home on Oakland Avenue, which he nicknamed “Casablanca.”
While he was justifiably proud of his professional and social endeavors, White frequently noted that he was a Depression-era baby, raised a Baptist and who grew up working in his father’s fish market in Anderson.
He is predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Diane, “Tweedie.” Trammell White; his parents, and his brothers James Lafayette White, Jr., and William White.
He is survived by daughters, Mary Capers White and Diane Montgomery White; his sister, Mary Eleanor Speer; his brother-in-law, Harlan M. Trammell Jr.; and his beloved nieces and nephews: Kathy White; Eleanor M. Bullock; Matthew Speer; Russell White; Karen White Shary; Harlan Trammell III; Martha Trammell Wyant; and Catherine Trammell Kotchen. Also, family member, Timothy Alford. A special thank you to Mark Mitcheson, friend and business associate, for his support and assistance, particularly in David’s last years.
David passed away peacefully in the company of long-time friend and caregiver, Gloria Robinson.
Visitation will be from 4:30-6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, at Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel. A funeral service will be held at Oakland Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Jeff Hayes, on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the York County Choral Society, https://yorkcountychoralsociety.org.