Obituary of Ann Neely White
Ann Neely White, of Hilton Head Island, SC, passed away suddenly on Friday, November 23, 2018 in Salvisa, KY while visiting family. Ann left us as she would have wanted, doing something she loved while enjoying the company of someone she loved. She suffered no pain and avoided a long illness, something she dreaded. She was 83 years young.
Ann grew up in Gladwin, Michigan and attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She was a resident of Sea Pines, Hilton Head Island for 36 years. Prior to that, she lived in Pittsford, NY where she raised her three children. She was a life-long avid gardener, accomplished potter and artist and applied her endless creativity and wonderful sense of whimsy to everything she touched. Each of her grandchildren has an Ann White quilt they will always cherish. Many family cupboards overflow with her playfully colorful ceramics.
Her accomplishments and activities were many and varied. Ann attended Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina for decades starting in 1971 and studied ceramics under many contemporary masters of the craft; was very proud to have biked across the state of Georgia at age 60; was an active member of the Heritage Farm Association community gardens, where she could be seen many mornings and evenings tending her vegetables and flowers; enjoyed tennis, her book club and playing Mahjong, or any other reason to be in the company of friends.
Ann was predeceased by her parents, Wayne N. Neely and Wilma Goertz Neely, and her loving husband, James D. White. She is survived by her brother Bruce Neely (Nicole), her 3 children; Lori Edwards Glavin (Michael), Lynn Edwards Leith (Eric) and Gregory L Edwards (Renee) and her stepdaughter Kris White Preston (Winston). She leaves behind 12 grandchildren she loved dearly.
There will be a celebration of Ann’s life at 3 pm on November 30, 2018 at St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church, 20 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head Island, SC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heritage Farm Association and mailed to Tom Schlenker, Treasurer, HFA, 21 Acorn Lane, Hilton Head Island, SC,
29928.